Vet Technician Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Anniston Alabama

Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Anniston AL could at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Anniston AL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. 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 receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Anniston AL laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Anniston AL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Anniston AL area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Anniston AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Anniston AL veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs 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 environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Anniston AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Anniston AL veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low 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, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Anniston AL schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Anniston AL home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Anniston AL. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Anniston

Enroll in the Best Anniston Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select 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 included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Anniston Alabama.

 

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