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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Ellijay Georgia

Ellijay GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Ellijay GA could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Ellijay GA

cat with cone after surgery in Ellijay GA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Ellijay GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So 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 possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Ellijay

student attending online vet tech school in Ellijay GA An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Ellijay GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Ellijay GA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Ellijay GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Ellijay GA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Ellijay GA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Ellijay GA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Ellijay GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Ellijay GA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Ellijay GA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Ellijay GA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in 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. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Ellijay GA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Ellijay GA?

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

Ellijay, Georgia

Gilmer County was cut from Cherokee County in 1832, and Ellijay became the county seat in 1834.[11] Ellijay existed as a remote mountain community until the Marietta and Northern Georgia Railroad (later the L & N) arrived in 1884. This prompted something of a boom in the timber industry, but the area remained relatively isolated until the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway (Georgia 515, named for Georgia governor and U.S. senator Zell Miller) was completed in 1991.

Ellijay is located at the center of Gilmer County, at 34°41'41" north, 84°29'1" west (34.694656, -84.483566).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.2 km2), all land.[4] It is situated at the confluence of the Ellijay and Cartecay rivers, forming the Coosawattee River, part of the Oostanaula/Coosa/Alabama River watershed. It is bordered to the east and south by the city of East Ellijay.

U.S. Route 76 bypasses the city center to the south and east. It leads west 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth and northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Blue Ridge. Georgia State Route 52 (Chatsworth Highway) also leads 24 miles (39 km) to Chatsworth, taking a more northerly route over Cohutta Mountain. Georgia State Route 515, the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, leads northeast with US 76 to Blue Ridge and south 20 miles (32 km) to Jasper. Downtown Atlanta is 77 miles (124 km) to the south.

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician College near Ellijay GA

Ellijay GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Ellijay GA.