Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Jacksonville AL

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Jacksonville Alabama

Jacksonville AL vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Jacksonville AL may initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Jacksonville AL

cat with cone after surgery in Jacksonville AL One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Jacksonville AL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Jacksonville AL laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Jacksonville

student attending online vet tech school in Jacksonville AL An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Jacksonville AL veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Jacksonville AL Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Jacksonville AL vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Jacksonville AL area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Jacksonville AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Jacksonville AL veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Jacksonville AL veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Jacksonville AL vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Jacksonville AL schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Jacksonville AL home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near 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 increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Jacksonville AL. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Jacksonville AL?

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

Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 12,548,[3] which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. Jacksonville State University is located here, which is a center of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.

Jacksonville was founded in 1833 on land purchased from Creek Indian Chief "Du-Hoag" Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to honor President Andrew Jackson in 1834. There are a couple Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the middle of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County until the 20th century when it moved to Anniston. Jacksonville State University was founded here in 1883.

An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville on March 19, 2018, causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages.[4] The relatively low amount of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was attributed by some to the fact that the university was on spring break at the time.[5][6] More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the immediate tornado relief.[7] Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that "[i]t's been amazing to see the university and the community come together." Classes resumed at the university the following month.[6] Although the university's usual site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with over 20 other buildings, the first spring graduation since the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 outside the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university's president, said "It's a joyous event generally because you're celebrating the accomplishments of all your graduates, but it's an even more joyous event because to me it's a celebration of how far we've come in a short time in recovering from these tornadoes."[4]

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near Jacksonville AL

Jacksonville AL vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Jacksonville AL.