Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Jacksonville Alabama

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Jacksonville AL to achieve your heartfelt desire to work with and care for animals might from the start 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 school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper choice? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree 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 preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Jacksonville AL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Jacksonville AL veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined 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

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Jacksonville AL area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Jacksonville AL area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Jacksonville AL vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

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

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Jacksonville AL veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Jacksonville AL schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Jacksonville AL home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are evaluating 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 Jacksonville AL. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Jacksonville

Enroll in the Right Jacksonville Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Jacksonville Alabama.

 

Jacksonville Veterinary Technician Schools | Jacksonville Online Vet Tech Programs