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

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Birmingham AL to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Birmingham AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered

An alternative 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 through the internet, students can study on their own schedule 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 tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Birmingham AL veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Birmingham AL area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Birmingham AL area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Birmingham AL veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Birmingham AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed 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 program has an excellent reputation within the Birmingham AL veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Birmingham AL colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Birmingham AL home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Birmingham AL. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later 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 might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Birmingham

Enroll in the Best Birmingham Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech 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 selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Birmingham Alabama.

 

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