Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Chapel Hill NC

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Chapel Hill North Carolina

Chapel Hill NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Chapel Hill NC could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Chapel Hill NC

cat with cone after surgery in Chapel Hill NC One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Chapel Hill NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all 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 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 involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that 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 usually takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Chapel Hill

student attending online vet tech school in Chapel Hill NC An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Chapel Hill NC veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Chapel Hill NC Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Chapel Hill NC vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Chapel Hill NC area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Chapel Hill NC area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Chapel Hill NC veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Chapel Hill NC veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school 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 considering. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Chapel Hill NC vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Chapel Hill NC schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback 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? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Chapel Hill NC home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges 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 Chapel Hill NC. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Chapel Hill NC?

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

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill is a town in Orange and Durham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 57,233 in the 2010 census, making Chapel Hill the 15th-largest city in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the state capital, Raleigh, make up the corners of the Research Triangle (officially the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill combined statistical area), with a total population of 1,998,808.[2]

The town was founded in 1793 and is centered on Franklin Street, covering 21.3 square miles (55 km2). It contains several districts and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care are a major part of the economy and town influence. Local artists have created many murals.

The area was the home place of early settler William Barbee of Middlesex County, Virginia, whose 1753 grant of 585 acres from John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville was the first of two land grants in what is now the Chapel Hill-Durham area. Though William Barbee died shortly after settling there, one of his eight children, Christopher Barbee, became an important contributor to his father's adopted community and to the fledgling University of North Carolina.

Select the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Chapel Hill NC

Chapel Hill NC vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing 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 Chapel Hill NC.