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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Lilburn Georgia

Lilburn GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Lilburn GA could initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications 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 programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Lilburn GA

cat with cone after surgery in Lilburn GA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Lilburn GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lilburn GA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Lilburn

student attending online vet tech school in Lilburn GA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lilburn GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished 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 right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Lilburn GA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Lilburn GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lilburn GA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Lilburn GA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Lilburn GA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Lilburn GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Lilburn GA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lilburn GA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lilburn GA home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state 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 finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lilburn GA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lilburn GA?

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

Lilburn, Georgia

Lilburn is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,596 at the 2010 census.[3] The estimated population was 12,655 in 2015.[4] It is a developed suburb of Atlanta and a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Lilburn is located in western Gwinnett County at 33°53′20″N 84°8′27″W / 33.88889°N 84.14083°W / 33.88889; -84.14083 (33.888853, -84.140897).[5]U.S. Route 29 (Lawrenceville Highway) passes through the center of town, leading southwest 19 miles (31 km) to downtown Atlanta and northeast 11 miles (18 km) to Lawrenceville, the Gwinnett County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lilburn has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.5 km2), of which 6.3 square miles (16.4 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.82%, is water.[3]

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Lilburn GA

Lilburn GA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed 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 imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lilburn GA.