Vet Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Jacksonville Alabama

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Jacksonville AL to achieve your heartfelt goal to help and care for our pets might initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Jacksonville AL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to 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 veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency 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 Veterinary Technician Programs Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Jacksonville AL veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Jacksonville AL area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Jacksonville AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Jacksonville AL vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Jacksonville AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Jacksonville AL veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Jacksonville AL programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding 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 School Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Jacksonville AL home, you must confirm 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 school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Jacksonville AL. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Jacksonville

Enroll in the Best Jacksonville Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal 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 essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Jacksonville Alabama.

 

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