Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Blairsville GA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Blairsville Georgia

Blairsville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Blairsville GA may initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Blairsville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Blairsville GA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Blairsville GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal 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 vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Blairsville GA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Blairsville

student attending online vet tech school in Blairsville GA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Blairsville 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 expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Blairsville GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Blairsville GA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Blairsville GA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable 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 Blairsville GA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Blairsville GA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Blairsville GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Blairsville GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Blairsville GA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Blairsville GA home, you need to 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, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 Blairsville GA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Blairsville GA?

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

Blairsville, Georgia

Although the neighboring city of Dahlonega was known as the first site of gold in the United States, the Blairsville area was known to have the purest gold in the mountains. Assayers in Washington, D.C. could tell by looking that gold ore was from the Coosa Mines because it was “the yellowest gold” submitted and its brilliant color set it apart.[11]

Blairsville has a humid subtropical climate, yet due to its elevation of 1,883 feet (574 m), typically records far lower temperatures at night than what is encountered in much of the Southeastern U.S., and has slightly higher precipitation totals (56 inches or 1,420 millimetres annually) than most locations in the state; the average diurnal temperature variation exceeds 25 °F (14 °C) in each of the spring and autumn months. Snow usually occurs several times every year. The average annual snowfall is 4 inches.[12] The monthly daily mean temperature ranges from 36.8 °F (2.7 °C) in January to 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) in July. There are 7.6 days of 90 °F (32 °C) highs and 4.6 days where the high fails to rise above freezing annually.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 652 people residing in the city. The population density was 529 people per square mile (240.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the city was: White alone - 577 (88.5%), African American - 30 (4.6%), Hispanic - 30 (4.6%), Two or more other races - 10 (1.5%), American Indian alone - 4 (0.6%), Asian - 1 (0.2%).[16]

Pick the Best Vet Tech College near Blairsville GA

Blairsville GA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Blairsville GA.