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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Ellenwood Georgia

Ellenwood GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Ellenwood GA may initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Ellenwood GA

cat with cone after surgery in Ellenwood GA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Ellenwood GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician 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 required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Ellenwood

student attending online vet tech school in Ellenwood GA An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Ellenwood GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm 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 practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Ellenwood GA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Ellenwood GA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Ellenwood GA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational 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 important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Ellenwood GA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Ellenwood GA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Ellenwood GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Ellenwood GA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Ellenwood GA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Ellenwood GA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet 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 Ellenwood GA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Ellenwood GA?

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

Ellenwood, Georgia

Ellenwood is an unincorporated community in Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, and DeKalb counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The community is a southeast suburb of Atlanta and is located along Interstate 675 and GA state route 42.

Select the Best Vet Tech Program near Ellenwood GA

Ellenwood GA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick 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 provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Ellenwood GA.