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How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Newnan Georgia

Newnan GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Newnan GA could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Newnan GA

cat with cone after surgery in Newnan GA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary 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 education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Newnan GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Newnan

student attending online vet tech school in Newnan GA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Newnan GA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Newnan GA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Newnan GA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, 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 Newnan GA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Newnan GA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Newnan GA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Newnan GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Newnan GA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Newnan GA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Newnan GA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Newnan GA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm 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 sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Newnan GA?

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

Newnan, Georgia

Newnan is a city in Metro Atlanta and the county seat of Coweta County, Georgia, approximately 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Atlanta. The population was 33,039 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 16,242 in 2000, for a growth rate of 103.4% over that decade.

Newnan was established as county seat of Coweta County (replacing the defunct town of Bullsboro) in 1828 and was named for North Carolinian General Daniel Newnan. It quickly became a prosperous magnet for lawyers, doctors, other professionals, and merchants. Much of Newnan's prosperity was due to its thriving cotton industry, which relied on slavery.

Newnan was largely untouched by the Civil War due to its status as a hospital city (for both Union and Confederate troops), and as a result still features much antebellum architecture [5]. Celebrated architect Kennon Perry designed many of the town's 20th century homes. During the Atlanta Campaign, Confederate cavalry defeated Union forces at the nearby Battle of Brown's Mill.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech College near Newnan GA

Newnan GA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Newnan GA.