Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Stewart GA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Fort Stewart Georgia

Fort Stewart GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Fort Stewart GA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Fort Stewart GA

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Stewart GA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might 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 all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Fort Stewart GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fort Stewart GA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Fort Stewart

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Stewart GA An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Stewart GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Fort Stewart GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Fort Stewart GA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Fort Stewart GA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

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

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Fort Stewart GA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Fort Stewart GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Fort Stewart 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 Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fort Stewart GA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Stewart GA home, you must make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, 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 community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fort Stewart GA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Stewart GA?

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

Fort Stewart

Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and United States Army post in the U.S. state of Georgia, primarily in Liberty and Bryan counties, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long and Tattnall counties. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census. The nearby principal city of Hinesville and Fort Stewart together comprise the Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan statistical area which comprises all of Liberty County. Fort Stewart's main residents are members of the 3rd Infantry Division.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,924 people residing in the base. The racial makeup of the base was 58.7% White, 23.2% Black, 0.6% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 3.6% from two or more races. 11.8% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,205 people, 1,849 households, and 1,791 families residing in the base. The population density was 1,697.1 people per square mile (655.5/km²). There were 1,936 housing units at an average density of 293.2 per square mile (113.3/km²). The racial makeup of the base was 50.00% White, 36.75% African American, 0.72% Native American, 1.91% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 6.75% from other races, and 3.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.12% of the population.

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Fort Stewart GA

Fort Stewart GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. 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 choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fort Stewart GA.