Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Alpharetta GA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Alpharetta Georgia

Alpharetta GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Alpharetta GA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Alpharetta GA

cat with cone after surgery in Alpharetta GA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Alpharetta GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Alpharetta GA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Alpharetta

student attending online vet tech school in Alpharetta GA An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Alpharetta GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Alpharetta GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Alpharetta GA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Alpharetta GA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Alpharetta GA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Alpharetta GA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Alpharetta GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Alpharetta GA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Alpharetta GA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Alpharetta GA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Alpharetta GA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Alpharetta GA?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Alpharetta Georgia area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Alpharetta, Georgia

Alpharetta is a city located in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States and is a suburb of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, Alpharetta's population was 57,551.[3] The estimated population in 2017 was 65,799.[1]

In the 1830s, the Cherokee people in Georgia and elsewhere in the South were forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) under the Indian Removal Act. Pioneers and farmers later settled on the newly vacated land, situated along a former Cherokee trail stretching from the North Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River.[4]

One of the first permanent landmarks in the area was the New Prospect Camp Ground (also known as the Methodist Camp Ground), located beside a natural spring near what is now downtown Alpharetta.[4] It later served as a trading post for the exchanging of goods among settlers.[4]

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Alpharetta GA

Alpharetta GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Alpharetta GA.