Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Auburn GA - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Auburn Georgia

Auburn GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Auburn GA could at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Auburn GA

cat with cone after surgery in Auburn GA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Auburn GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs 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 Auburn GA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Auburn

student attending online vet tech school in Auburn GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Auburn GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Auburn GA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Auburn GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Auburn GA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Auburn GA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Auburn GA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Auburn GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Auburn GA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Auburn GA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Auburn GA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Auburn GA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Auburn GA?

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

Auburn, Georgia

Auburn is located in western Barrow County at 34°1′0″N 83°49′55″W / 34.01667°N 83.83194°W / 34.01667; -83.83194 (34.016692, -83.831869).[5] It is 42 miles (68 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta and 27 miles (43 km) west of Athens.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.5 square miles (16.8 km2), of which 6.4 square miles (16.7 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.39%, is water.[2]

As of 2010 Auburn had a population of 6,887. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 85.3% white, 4.9% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 3.3% from some other race and 2.1% reporting two or more races. 7.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.[7]

Select the Right Vet Tech College near Auburn GA

Auburn GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Auburn GA.