Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Mount Airy GA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Mount Airy Georgia

Mount Airy GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Mount Airy GA may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Mount Airy GA

cat with cone after surgery in Mount Airy GA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Mount Airy GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Mount Airy

student attending online vet tech school in Mount Airy GA An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Mount Airy GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose 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 disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Mount Airy GA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Mount Airy GA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mount Airy GA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 a thorough review 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 numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Mount Airy GA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Mount Airy GA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Mount Airy GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Mount Airy GA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mount Airy GA programs 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 monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning 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 School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Mount Airy GA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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. Also, 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 especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mount Airy GA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Mount Airy GA?

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

Mount Airy, Georgia

The town of Mount Airy was founded on March 3, 1874. It began primarily as a summer retreat for wealthy residents of Atlanta and Savannah. There was once a grand hotel called the Monterrey where the current City Hall stands. Many wealthy families came to the hotel to seek refuge from the heat and from the large populations of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Mount Airy was a popular tourist destination with many families eventually establishing homes in the area.

A grand, white-columned home on Seventh Street was once the home of baseball legend Ty Cobb. He lived in the home for some time after his retirement. The house still stands as a private residence and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Airy was also the hometown of the nation's longest serving elected state official, Tommy Irvin, the late state agriculture commissioner.

Mount Airy is located in southern Habersham County at 34°31′03″N 83°30′22″W / 34.517638°N 83.506177°W / 34.517638; -83.506177.[5] It is bordered to the west by the city of Cornelia and to the south by Chattahoochee National Forest. The town sits on top of the Eastern Continental Divide, with Camp Creek, draining the northern half of town, flowing north to Hazel Creek and the Soquee River, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, while the southern half of town drains to Nancy Town Creek, then the Middle Fork of the Broad River and eventually the Savannah River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Mount Airy GA

Mount Airy GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important 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 schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mount Airy GA.