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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Felton Georgia

Felton GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Felton GA might initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Felton GA

cat with cone after surgery in Felton GA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Felton GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example 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 handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Felton

student attending online vet tech school in Felton GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Felton GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Felton GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Felton GA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Felton GA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 thorough screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Felton GA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating 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 tip, call some Felton GA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Felton GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Felton GA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Felton GA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Felton GA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in 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 may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Felton GA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Felton GA?

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

Rebecca Latimer Felton

Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton (June 10, 1835 – January 24, 1930) was an American writer, lecturer, reformer, and politician who became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate, though only serving for one day.[1][2] She was the most prominent woman in Georgia in the Progressive Era, and was honored by appointment to the Senate. She was sworn in November 21, 1922, and served just 24 hours. At 87 years, nine months, and 22 days old, she was the oldest freshman senator to enter the Senate. To date, she is also the only woman to have served as a Senator from Georgia. Her husband William Harrell Felton was a member of the United States House of Representatives and Georgia House of Representatives and she ran his campaigns. She was a prominent society woman; an advocate of prison reform, women's suffrage and educational modernization; a white supremacist and slave owner; and one of the few prominent women who spoke in favor of lynching. Bartley reports that by 1915 she "was championing a lengthy feminist program that ranged from prohibition to equal pay for equal work."[3]

Felton was born in Decatur, Georgia on June 10, 1835. She was the daughter of Charles Latimer, a prosperous planter, merchant, general store owner. Charles was a Maryland native who moved to DeKalb County in the 1820s, and his wife, Eleanor Swift Latimer, was from Morgan, Georgia. Felton was the oldest of four children; her sister, Mary Latimer, also became prominent in women's reforms in the early 20th century. When she was 15, her father sent her to live with relatives in the town of Madison where she attended a private school within a local Presbyterian church. She then went on to attend Madison Female College, from which she received a classical liberal arts education.[4] She graduated at the top of her class at age 17 in 1852.[5]

In October of 1853, she married Dr. William Harrell Felton at her home and moved to live with him on his plantation just north of Cartersville, Georgia. She gave birth to five children, one daughter and four sons. Only one, Howard Erwin Felton, survived childhood. In the aftermath of the Civil War, their plantation was destroyed. Because they were now unable to rely on slave labor as a means of producing income, Dr. Felton returned to farming as a way to earn income until there was enough money to open a school. Felton and her husband opened Felton Academy in Cartersville, where she and her husband both taught.[6]

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician College near Felton GA

Felton GA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Felton GA.