Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Foley Alabama
Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Foley AL may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Foley AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Foley AL laboratories or research facilities also.
Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered
An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Foley AL veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school 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 comprehensive 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.
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Foley AL area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Foley AL area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Foley AL veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Foley AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of 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 could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Foley AL veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure 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. Solicit from the Foley AL schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations 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? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Foley AL home, you must 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Foley AL. Others may 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, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Foley
Chosse the Right Foley Veterinary Technologist School
Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Foley Alabama.