Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Whitesburg GA

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Whitesburg Georgia

Whitesburg GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Whitesburg GA could at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Whitesburg GA

cat with cone after surgery in Whitesburg GA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish 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 primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Whitesburg GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Whitesburg

student attending online vet tech school in Whitesburg GA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several 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 carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Whitesburg GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Whitesburg GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Whitesburg GA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Whitesburg GA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Whitesburg GA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking 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 infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Whitesburg GA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Whitesburg GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study 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 ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Whitesburg GA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Whitesburg GA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Whitesburg GA home, you must make sure 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, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Whitesburg GA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Whitesburg GA?

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

Whitesburg, Georgia

The McIntosh Reserve here is the former plantation of Chief William McIntosh, a prominent leader of the Lower Towns of the Creek Confederacy. He was executed at his home in 1825 on order of the National Council of the Creek Nation for having negotiated and signed the Treaty of Indian Springs that year, which ceded most of the Creek territory in Georgia and Alabama to the United States. The Creek National Council negotiated a new treaty with the United States the next year to gain a more favorable settlement, but most of the Creek were removed to Indian Territory in the 1820s and 1830s.

In the 21st century federally recognized tribes of the Creek include the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Kialegee Tribal Town, and Thlopthlocco Tribal Town of Oklahoma, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, and the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which 2.8 square miles (7.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (1.07%) is water. Whitesburg is located along the Chattahoochee River in southeastern Carroll County.

Select the Right Vet Tech Program near Whitesburg GA

Whitesburg GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech 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 picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Whitesburg GA.