Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lithonia GA - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Lithonia Georgia

Lithonia GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lithonia GA may initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Lithonia GA

cat with cone after surgery in Lithonia GA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Lithonia GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two 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 vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Lithonia

student attending online vet tech school in Lithonia GA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lithonia GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes 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.

Questions to Ask Lithonia GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Lithonia GA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lithonia GA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college 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 veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lithonia GA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Lithonia GA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Lithonia GA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lithonia GA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lithonia GA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lithonia GA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide 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. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lithonia GA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lithonia GA?

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

Lithonia, Georgia

"Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian granite-quarrying and viewing region, hence the name of the town, from the Greek λίθος lithos, for stone. The huge nearby granite dome, Stone Mountain, is composed largely of a rock called Lithonia gneiss, a form of granite. The area has a history of rock quarries. The mines were served by the Georgia Railroad and Atlanta, Stone Mountain & Lithonia Railway. Some of the rock quarries have been converted to parkland and the rail lines to rail-trail.

Lithonia is located in southeastern DeKalb County at 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583 (33.712658, -84.105897).[6]Interstate 20 passes just south of the community, with access from Exits 74 and 75. Lithonia is 18 miles (29 km) east of the center of Atlanta.

In 1805, Lithonia began as a small crossroads settlement of farmers. The town grew with the coming of the Atlanta Augusta Railroad in 1845, which allowed the granite quarrying industry in the area to flourish.[7]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Lithonia GA

Lithonia GA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lithonia GA.