Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Statenville GA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Statenville Georgia

Statenville GA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Statenville GA may initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Statenville GA

cat with cone after surgery in Statenville GA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire 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 devote to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Statenville GA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Statenville GA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Statenville

student attending online vet tech school in Statenville GA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Statenville GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Statenville GA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Statenville GA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend 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 Statenville GA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of 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 important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Statenville GA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions 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 grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Statenville GA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Statenville GA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Statenville GA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Statenville GA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Statenville GA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the college is located in or near a larger 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 fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Statenville GA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Statenville GA?

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

Statenville, Georgia

Statenville is an unincorporated community in and the county seat of Echols County, Georgia, United States.[1] It is a census-designated place (CDP), with a population of 1,040 at the 2010 census.[2] The ZIP code is 31648, and the area code 229.

The town of Statenville was originally called Troublesome. It grew up at a ford on the Alapaha River in the 1850s. Troublesome was renamed Statenville when the latter was designated county seat in 1858 of the newly-formed Echols County. It is named for James Watson Staten,[3] but was erroneously incorporated as "Statesville" in 1859. In 1965, the state officially amended the city's charter to read "Statenville". In 1995, a new state law revoked the city charter, along with dozens of others in Georgia which had inactive governments. This left Echols and Webster as the only counties in Georgia with no incorporated communities whatsoever.

Statenville is located in western Echols County, just east of the Alapaha River. U.S. Route 129 passes through the community, leading north 27 miles (43 km) to Lakeland, south 6 miles (10 km) to the Florida border, and south 14 miles (23 km) to Jasper, Florida. Georgia State Route 94 crosses US 129 in the center of Statenville, leading east 28 miles (45 km) to Fargo and northwest 18 miles (29 km) to Valdosta.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near Statenville GA

Statenville GA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering vet tech programs need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative 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 programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Statenville GA.