Veterinary Technician School
How to Pick the Best One Near Birmingham Alabama

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Birmingham AL could at first feel like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied roles 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

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Birmingham AL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside 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 instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Birmingham AL area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school 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 need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Birmingham AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Birmingham AL veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Birmingham AL veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some 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 high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Birmingham AL vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Birmingham AL programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Birmingham AL home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Birmingham AL. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Birmingham

Enroll in the Best Birmingham Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Birmingham Alabama.

 

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