Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shady Dale GA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Shady Dale Georgia

Shady Dale GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Shady Dale GA may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Shady Dale GA

cat with cone after surgery in Shady Dale GA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Shady Dale GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Shady Dale GA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Shady Dale

student attending online vet tech school in Shady Dale GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Shady Dale GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Shady Dale GA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Shady Dale GA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Shady Dale GA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Shady Dale GA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Shady Dale GA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Shady Dale GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Shady Dale GA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Shady Dale GA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Shady Dale GA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Shady Dale GA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shady Dale GA?

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

Shady Dale, Georgia

Shady Dale is located in northeastern Jasper County at 33°23′58″N 83°35′24″W / 33.39944°N 83.59000°W / 33.39944; -83.59000 (33.399562, -83.589937).[6] Georgia State Routes 83 and 142 intersect in the center of town. GA 83 leads northeast 17 miles (27 km) to Madison and southwest 8 miles (13 km) to Monticello, the Jasper county seat, while GA 142 leads northwest 11 miles (18 km) to Newborn and southeast 9 miles (14 km) to Willard.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.3 km2), of which 1.8 acres (7,479 m2), or 0.33%, are water. The east side of town drains toward the Little River, a tributary of the Oconee River, while the west side drains to Murder Creek, a tributary of the Little River. The town is home to the Silver Bullet Hunting club.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 242 people, 88 households, and 60 families residing in the town. The population density was 290.2 people per square mile (112.6/km²). There were 89 housing units at an average density of 106.7 per square mile (41.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 65.29% White, 28.10% African American, 6.61% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.61% of the population.

Select the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Shady Dale GA

Shady Dale GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on 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 reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shady Dale GA.