Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fitzgerald GA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Fitzgerald Georgia

Fitzgerald GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Fitzgerald GA may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Fitzgerald GA

cat with cone after surgery in Fitzgerald GA Among 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 determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Fitzgerald GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example 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 intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. 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 associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries 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 techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 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 career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Fitzgerald

student attending online vet tech school in Fitzgerald GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fitzgerald GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Fitzgerald GA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Fitzgerald GA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Fitzgerald GA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Fitzgerald GA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Fitzgerald GA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Fitzgerald GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Fitzgerald GA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded 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 most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Fitzgerald GA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Fitzgerald GA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fitzgerald GA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fitzgerald GA?

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

Fitzgerald, Georgia

The city of Fitzgerald is the county seat of Ben Hill County in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia.[6] As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 9,053.[7] It is the principal city of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Ben Hill and Irwin counties.

Fitzgerald was developed in 1895 by Philander H. Fitzgerald, an Indianapolis newspaper editor. A former drummer boy in the Union Army during the Civil War, he founded it as a community for war veterans – both from the Union and from the Confederacy.[8] The majority of the first citizens (some 2700) were Union veterans.[9] It was incorporated on December 2, 1896.[10] The town is located less than 15 miles (24 km) from the site where Confederate president Jefferson Davis was captured on May 10, 1865.

Fitzgerald was an early planned city. It was laid out as a square, with intersecting streets dividing it into four wards. Each of the wards was divided into four blocks and each block had sixteen squares.[11] The first two streets running North/South on the west side of the city were named after Confederate generals Lee and Johnston, whereas the first two on the east side were named after Union generals Grant and Sherman.[12]

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Fitzgerald GA

Fitzgerald GA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online 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 decision. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fitzgerald GA.