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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Kennesaw Georgia

Kennesaw GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Kennesaw GA might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Kennesaw GA

cat with cone after surgery in Kennesaw GA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Kennesaw GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty 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 functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Kennesaw

student attending online vet tech school in Kennesaw GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Kennesaw GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical 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 right choice for you.

What to Ask Kennesaw GA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Kennesaw GA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Kennesaw GA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Kennesaw GA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Kennesaw GA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Kennesaw GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Kennesaw GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Kennesaw GA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Kennesaw GA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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 larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Kennesaw GA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kennesaw GA?

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

Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States, located in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census.[4] Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history. During the Civil War, Kennesaw was the staging ground for the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862. The city is perhaps best known nationally for its mandatory gun-possession ordinance.[5]

As the Western and Atlantic Railroad were being built in the late 1830s, shanties arose to house the workers. These were near a big spring. A grade up from the Etowah River became known as "the big grade to the shanties", then "Big Shanty Grade", and finally "Big Shanty".[6]

During the Civil War, Big Shanty was the site of major fighting in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, part of the larger Atlanta Campaign. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park,[9] located southeast of the city limits, now contains many of these historic areas, though much of the surrounding land has been developed, and some buried artifacts have been taken by people with metal detectors.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Kennesaw GA

Kennesaw GA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in 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 assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Kennesaw GA.