Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Benning GA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Fort Benning Georgia

Fort Benning GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fort Benning GA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Fort Benning GA

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Benning GA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to 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 even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Fort Benning GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Fort Benning

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Benning GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study 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 typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Benning GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program 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 included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Fort Benning GA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Fort Benning GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fort Benning GA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Fort Benning GA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online 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 violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Fort Benning GA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Fort Benning GA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Fort Benning GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fort Benning GA programs you are considering 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 teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Benning GA home, you must confirm that the driving 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 campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially 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 necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fort Benning GA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Benning GA?

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

Fort Benning

Fort Benning is a United States Army post straddling the Alabama–Georgia border next to Columbus, Georgia. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees on a daily basis. It is a power projection platform, and possesses the capability to deploy combat-ready forces by air, rail, and highway. Fort Benning is the home of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, United States Army Infantry School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly known as the School of the Americas), elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment (United States), 3rd Brigade – 3rd Infantry Division, and many other additional tenant units.

Since 1909, Fort Benning has served as the Home of the Infantry. Since 2005, Fort Benning has been transformed into the Maneuver Center of Excellence, as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission's decision to consolidate a number of schools and installations to create various "centers of excellence". Included in this transformation was the move of the Armor School from Fort Knox to Fort Benning.[3]

Camp Benning was established in October 1909, after President Woodrow Wilson called for a special session of Congress, culminating Congressional work in the creation of the Revenue Act of 1913, reintroducing an income tax which lowered tariffs, (tariffs-a schedule of rates or charges of a business or a public utility) assigning permanent status in 1909. Initially providing basic training for World War I units, post-war Dwight D. Eisenhower served at Benning from December 24, 1918,[4] until March 15, 1919,[5] with about 250 of his Camp Colt, Pennsylvania, tankers who transferred to Benning after the armistice.[6]:72 On December 26, 1918, a portion of the Camp Polk (near Raleigh, North Carolina) tank school was transferred to Camp Benning "to work in conjunction with the Infantry school".[7] Camp Benning tank troops were moved to Camp Meade from February 19–21, 1919.[7]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Fort Benning GA

Fort Benning GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fort Benning GA.