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Vet Technician College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Decatur Alabama

Decatur Alabama dog with big ears with cone on headChoosing a veterinary technician school near Decatur AL to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Decatur Alabama vet checking dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Decatur AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all cases 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 vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
  • Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 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 function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job 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 more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Decatur AL labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

Decatur Alabama woman enrolled in vet tech classes onlineAn option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Decatur AL veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

Decatur Alabama cat in portable kennel in veterinary clinicAt this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Decatur AL area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you select 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 a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive 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 colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Decatur AL area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Decatur AL vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Decatur AL veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Decatur AL vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Decatur AL schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Decatur AL home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Decatur AL. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Decatur

Chosse the Best Decatur Vet Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Decatur Alabama.



 

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