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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Dudley Georgia

Dudley GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Dudley GA could initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Dudley GA

cat with cone after surgery in Dudley GA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Dudley GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Dudley

student attending online vet tech school in Dudley GA An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Dudley GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical 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 school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Dudley GA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Dudley GA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Dudley GA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Dudley GA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Dudley GA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Dudley GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Dudley GA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate 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 bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Dudley GA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Dudley GA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide 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 classes online may 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 important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Dudley GA. Some 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 before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dudley GA?

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

Dudley, Georgia

Northwood Trail Subdivision is located in Dudley, and has grown into one of the town's largest and most populated neighborhoods. Located off of highway 338, Northwood Trail is just minutes away from the elementary school, making it one of the more desirable locations in Laurens county for families with young children. The subdivision's homes range in price from $165,000-$250,000 and are settled upon large lots.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 447 people, 189 households, and 130 families residing in the city. The population density was 143.5 people per square mile (55.3/km²). There were 207 housing units at an average density of 66.4 per square mile (25.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.79% White, 13.65% African American, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.22% of the population.

There were 189 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near Dudley GA

Dudley GA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dudley GA.