Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Holly Springs NC

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Holly Springs North Carolina

Holly Springs NC vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Holly Springs NC may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to find 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 approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Holly Springs NC

cat with cone after surgery in Holly Springs NC Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Holly Springs NC veterinary clinic 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 veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually 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 basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Holly Springs NC laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Holly Springs

student attending online vet tech school in Holly Springs NC An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Holly Springs NC veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Holly Springs NC Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Holly Springs NC vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, 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 Holly Springs NC area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 a demanding 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 available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Holly Springs NC area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the North Carolina school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Holly Springs NC vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Holly Springs NC veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as 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 there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Holly Springs NC veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Holly Springs NC schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Holly Springs NC home, you need 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Holly Springs NC. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Holly Springs NC?

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

Holly Springs, North Carolina

Holly Springs is located at 35°39′16″N 78°49′29″W / 35.65444°N 78.82472°W / 35.65444; -78.82472 (35.654583, −78.824624).[5] The town's name refers to the free flowing springs that emerge into a stream and small lake surrounded by large mature holly trees. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39.2 km2), of which 15.0 square miles (38.9 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.78%, is water.[6]

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 24,661 people, 8,147 households, and 6,706 families residing in the town. In the 2000 census, there were only 9,192 people, 3,316 households, and 2,609 families residing in the town, demonstrating a large rate of growth during the past decade. The population density was 1,633.18 people per square mile. There were 8,658 housing units in 2010, an increase from only 3,642 housing units in 2000. The racial makeup of the town was 79.80% White, 12.6% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.30% of the population.[4]

There were 8,147 households out of which 55.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.38.[4]

Select the Right Vet Tech Program near Holly Springs NC

Holly Springs NC vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Holly Springs NC.