Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lawrenceville GA

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Lawrenceville Georgia

Lawrenceville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Lawrenceville GA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for 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 comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Lawrenceville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Lawrenceville GA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Lawrenceville GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade 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. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, 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 urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lawrenceville GA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Lawrenceville

student attending online vet tech school in Lawrenceville GA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lawrenceville GA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Lawrenceville GA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Lawrenceville GA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential 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 Lawrenceville GA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Lawrenceville GA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Lawrenceville GA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Lawrenceville GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lawrenceville GA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low 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 larger sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lawrenceville GA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lawrenceville GA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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 campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lawrenceville GA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lawrenceville GA?

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

Lawrenceville, Georgia

Lawrenceville is a city in and the county seat of Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States.[4] It is a suburb of Atlanta, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) northeast of downtown. As of the 2010 census, the population of Lawrenceville was 28,546.[5] In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city population to be 30,493.[6] Lawrenceville has six ZIP codes (30042-30046, 30049), and it is part of the 678/770/404 telephone area code, which is used throughout metropolitan Atlanta.

Lawrenceville was incorporated by an act of the Georgia General Assembly on December 15, 1821. This makes Lawrenceville the second oldest city in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The city is named after Commodore James Lawrence, commander of the frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812. Lawrence, a native of New Jersey, is probably best known today for his dying command, "Don't give up the ship!" William Maltbie, the town's first postmaster, suggested the name of "Lawrenceville."

In 1821, a permanent site for the county courthouse was selected and purchased, the four streets bordering the square were laid out along with other streets in the village, and a public well was dug. Major Grace built the first permanent courthouse, a brick structure, in 1823-24 for a cost of $4,000. The courthouse presently on the square was constructed in 1885.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Lawrenceville GA

Lawrenceville GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lawrenceville GA.