Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Charleston SC

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Charleston South Carolina

Charleston SC vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Charleston SC may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Charleston SC

cat with cone after surgery in Charleston SC One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Charleston SC veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Charleston SC laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Charleston

student attending online vet tech school in Charleston SC An alternative that may 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 program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Charleston SC veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional 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 courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Charleston SC Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Charleston SC vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Charleston SC area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality 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. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Charleston SC area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the South Carolina school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Charleston SC vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Charleston SC veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Charleston SC vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Charleston SC schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Charleston SC home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Charleston SC. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Charleston SC?

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

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the oldest and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County,[5] and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston–Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area.[6] The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline and is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando rivers. Charleston had an estimated population of 134,875 in 2017.[7] The estimated population of the Charleston metropolitan area, comprising Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties, was 761,155 residents in 2016, the third-largest in the state and the 78th-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States.

Charleston was founded in 1670 as Charles Town, honoring King Charles II of England. Its initial location at Albemarle Point on the west bank of the Ashley River (now Charles Towne Landing) was abandoned in 1680 for its present site, which became the fifth-largest city in North America within ten years. Despite its size, it remained unincorporated throughout the colonial period; its government was handled directly by a colonial legislature and a governor sent by London. Election districts were organized according to Anglican parishes, and some social services were managed by Anglican wardens and vestries. Charleston adopted its present spelling with its incorporation as a city in 1783 at the close of the Revolutionary War. Population growth in the interior of South Carolina influenced the removal of the state government to Columbia in 1788, but the port city remained among the ten largest cities in the United States through the 1840 census.[8] Historians estimate that "nearly half of all Africans brought to America arrived in Charleston", most at Gadsden's Wharf.[9] The only major antebellum American city to have a majority-enslaved population, Charleston was controlled by an oligarchy of white planters and merchants who successfully forced the federal government to revise its 1828 and 1832 tariffs during the Nullification Crisis and launched the Civil War in 1861 by seizing the Arsenal, Castle Pinckney, and Fort Sumter from their federal garrisons.

Known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants, and hospitable people, Charleston is a popular tourist destination. It has received numerous accolades, including "America's Most Friendly [City]" by Travel + Leisure in 2011 and in 2013 and 2014 by Condé Nast Traveler,[10][11] and also "the most polite and hospitable city in America" by Southern Living magazine.[12] In 2016, Charleston was ranked the "World's Best City" by Travel + Leisure.[13]

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician College near Charleston SC

Charleston SC vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Charleston SC.