Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Loganville GA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Loganville Georgia

Loganville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Loganville GA may initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Loganville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Loganville GA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Loganville GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Loganville

student attending online vet tech school in Loganville GA An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Loganville GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Loganville GA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Loganville GA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Loganville GA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Loganville GA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with 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 complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Loganville GA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Loganville GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Loganville GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Loganville GA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback 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 Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Loganville GA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Loganville GA. Others may only be able to attend class 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 because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Loganville GA?

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

Loganville, Georgia

Loganville is a city in Walton and Gwinnett counties, Georgia, United States. The population was 10,458 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 5,435 in 2000. It is 12 miles from Monroe, Ga. The county seat of Walton County.

Loganville is in western Walton County, with the city limits extending west into southeastern Gwinnett County. U.S. Route 78 (Atlanta Highway) passes through the center of town, leading east 5 miles (8.0 km) to Monroe, the Walton County seat, and west 32 miles (51 km) to downtown Atlanta. Georgia State Route 20 leads northwest from Loganville 10 miles (16 km) to Lawrenceville, the Gwinnett County seat, and southwest 15 miles (24 km) to Conyers. Georgia State Route 81 leads northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Winder and south 18 miles (29 km) to Covington.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Loganville has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.1 km2), of which 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.60%, is water.[4]

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician School near Loganville GA

Loganville GA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Loganville GA.