Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Greensboro NC

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Greensboro North Carolina

Greensboro NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Greensboro NC could at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Greensboro NC

cat with cone after surgery in Greensboro NC One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Greensboro NC veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet 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 Greensboro NC labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Greensboro

student attending online vet tech school in Greensboro NC An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various 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 Greensboro NC veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Greensboro NC Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Greensboro NC vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Greensboro NC area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough 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 a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Greensboro NC area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Greensboro NC veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Greensboro NC veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? 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 programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Greensboro NC vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify 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 bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Greensboro NC colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Greensboro NC home, you must make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Greensboro NC. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Greensboro NC?

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

Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro (/ˈɡriːnzbʌroʊ/ (listen);[4] formerly Greensborough) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina.[1] It is the 3rd-most populous city in North Carolina, the 68th-most populous city in the United States, and the county seat and largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 269,666,[2] and in 2015 the estimated population was 285,342.[5] Three major interstate highways (Interstate 40, Interstate 85, and Interstate 73) in the Piedmont region of central North Carolina were built to intersect at this city.

In 1808, "Greensborough" (the spelling before 1895) was planned around a central courthouse square to succeed Guilford Court House as the county seat. The county courts were thus placed closer to the geographical center of the county, a location more easily reached at the time by the majority of the county's citizens, who depended on horse and foot for travel.

In 2003, the previous Greensboro – Winston-Salem – High Point metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was re-defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. This region was separated into the Greensboro–High Point MSA and the Winston-Salem MSA. The 2010 population for the Greensboro–High Point MSA was 723,801. The combined statistical area (CSA) of Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point, popularly referred to as the Piedmont Triad, had a population of 1,599,477.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech School near Greensboro NC

Greensboro NC vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Greensboro NC.