Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Clarkesville GA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Clarkesville Georgia

Clarkesville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Clarkesville GA could initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Clarkesville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Clarkesville GA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Clarkesville GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician 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 also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Clarkesville

student attending online vet tech school in Clarkesville GA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Clarkesville GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Clarkesville GA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Clarkesville GA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Clarkesville GA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Clarkesville GA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Clarkesville GA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Clarkesville GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might 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, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Clarkesville GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Clarkesville GA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Clarkesville GA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Clarkesville GA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Clarkesville GA?

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

Clarkesville, Georgia

Clarkesville is located in central Habersham County at 34°36′38″N 83°31′30″W / 34.61056°N 83.52500°W / 34.61056; -83.52500 (34.610521, -83.525056),[7] on the south side of the Soquee River, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Chattahoochee River. It is 4 miles (6 km) north of Demorest, 15 miles (24 km) east of Cleveland, 13 miles (21 km) west of Toccoa, and 13 miles southwest of Tallulah Falls.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.49 square miles (6.45 km2), of which 2.46 square miles (6.37 km2) are land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2), or 1.20%, are water.[4]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,248 people, 580 households, and 335 families residing in the city. The population density was 670.6 people per square mile (259.1/km²). There were 639 housing units at an average density of 343.3 per square mile (132.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.06% White, 7.77% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

Choose the Right Vet Tech Program near Clarkesville GA

Clarkesville GA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Clarkesville GA.