Vet Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Athens Alabama
Finding a veterinary technician school near Athens AL to achieve your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
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Vet Tech Degree Options
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Athens AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.
- 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 graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions 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 fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Athens AL laboratories or research facilities also.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered
An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle 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 study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Athens AL veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Athens AL area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Athens AL area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Athens AL veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Athens AL veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some 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 may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Athens AL veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Athens AL colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Athens AL home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend 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 classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Athens AL. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later 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 due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Athens
Enroll in the Right Athens Vet Technologist Program
Picking the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important 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 colleges 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 choice. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Athens Alabama.