Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Snellville GA

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Snellville Georgia

Snellville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Snellville GA could at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating 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 varied duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Snellville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Snellville GA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Snellville GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured 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 vocational school. 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 involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a 2 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally 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. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Snellville GA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Snellville

student attending online vet tech school in Snellville GA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Snellville GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Snellville GA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Snellville GA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Snellville GA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want 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 Veterinary 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 mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Snellville GA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Snellville GA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Snellville GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Snellville GA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Snellville GA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Snellville GA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Snellville GA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Snellville GA?

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

Snellville, Georgia

In 1874 Thomas Snell and James Sawyer, seventeen-year-old friends from London, secretly planned a voyage to the New World. On March 18, James Sawyer and his brother, Charles, left England. However, Snell's parents, having learned of the plan, wouldn't allow him to leave, thus delaying his departure. The Sawyer brothers arrived in New York on April 1, and after a few weeks headed toward Athens, Georgia, and then to Madison County, where they stayed and worked on a farm for $10 a month. Snell did eventually follow his friends to New York and made his way south to meet them. The three then made their way through Jefferson and Lawrenceville. Shortly after Snell's arrival, Charles left for Pennsylvania, later returning to the South and settling in Alabama, where he went into the turpentine business. James had gone also, in search of his brother, leaving Snell to work on the farm of A. A. Dyer.

Unable to find his brother, James Sawyer returned to New York and began work on a farm near the Hudson River area until his 21st birthday in 1878, when he returned to England to claim his inheritance. Shortly following, in August 1879, he returned to Americus, Georgia, and then Gwinnett County. Once in Gwinnett County, Sawyer found Snell in the small settlement then known as New London, near Stone Mountain. In the homestead that Snell now referred to as Snellville, the two built a small wood frame building and started a business together, Snell and Sawyer's Store, similar to the one in which they were employed in London. As was common in small mill towns of the time, they printed store money with the trade value and Snell's likeness on the front that regular customers could use to purchase goods. By the end of 1879, the business was prospering and catering to customers from the neighboring towns of Lawrenceville and Loganville. Travelers would buy supplies at "Snell and Sawyer's" and often spend the night in the nearby oak groves, as the trip was too great for one day's travel. It is uncertain when New London officially became Snellville, but the location of the partners' store was referred to as Snellville in their advertising, and the young town began to show a promising future.

The partnership later dissolved, and Sawyer kept the old store, building granite stone above and around the old frame and then disassembling the wood frame from within. Snell built a new store of granite. In 1883 Sawyer built a home and married Emma Webb, of the historic Snellville Webb family, on November 15. Sawyer opened Snellville's first post office in 1885 and served as postmaster from the back of his store.

Pick the Best Vet Tech Program near Snellville GA

Snellville GA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to 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 tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Snellville GA.