Veterinary Technician Training
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 college near Birmingham AL could initially seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician 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 probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Birmingham AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training 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 curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Birmingham AL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive 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.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Birmingham AL area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you choose 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Birmingham AL area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. 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 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 grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Birmingham AL veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools 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 hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Birmingham AL vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Birmingham AL programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Birmingham AL home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Birmingham AL. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Birmingham

Chosse the Best Birmingham Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Birmingham Alabama.

 

Birmingham Veterinary Technician Schools | Birmingham Online Vet Tech Programs