Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Powder Springs GA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Powder Springs Georgia

Powder Springs GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Powder Springs GA may initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to 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 go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Powder Springs GA

cat with cone after surgery in Powder Springs GA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Powder Springs GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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 involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore 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 options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Powder Springs GA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Powder Springs

student attending online vet tech school in Powder Springs GA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school 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 available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Powder Springs GA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Powder Springs GA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Powder Springs GA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Powder Springs GA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Powder Springs GA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Powder Springs GA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Powder Springs GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Powder Springs GA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Powder Springs GA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 previously discussed 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 Powder Springs GA home, you must confirm 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 campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Powder Springs GA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Powder Springs GA?

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

Powder Springs, Georgia

In 2015 the city elected its first black mayor, Al Thurman. He was the first African American to be elected as mayor in Cobb County,[7] but was one of several elected in small towns in Georgia in 2015.[8]

The town of Powder Springs was incorporated as Springville in 1838 in the lands of two Cherokee Indian leaders. Gold had been discovered in Georgia ten years earlier, and the first European-American settlers came to find gold. The settlers found little gold in the mines at Lost Mountain and off Brownsville Road. It was at about this time that the Cherokee people were forced off their land and removed to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River on the Trail of Tears.

Springville was renamed as Powder Springs in 1859. The name was derived from the seven springs in the city limits.[9] The water in these springs contains some 26 minerals that turn the surrounding sand black like gunpowder – hence the earlier name of Gunpowder Springs.[10]

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Powder Springs GA

Powder Springs GA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Powder Springs GA.