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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Concord Georgia

Concord GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Concord GA may at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Concord GA

cat with cone after surgery in Concord GA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Concord GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites 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 practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Concord

student attending online vet tech school in Concord GA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Concord GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Concord GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Concord GA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Concord GA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Concord GA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Concord GA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Concord GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Concord GA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Concord GA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Concord GA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Concord GA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Concord GA?

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

Concord, Georgia

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place in 1887 as the "Town of Concord".[4] The community took its name from the Concord Primitive Baptist Church, which stood at the site since the early 1840s.[5]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 336 people, 118 households, and 92 families residing in the town. The population density was 403.5 people per square mile (156.3/km²). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 153.7 per square mile (59.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 73.81% White, 24.70% African American, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 118 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.26.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician School near Concord GA

Concord GA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Concord GA.