Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Phenix City Alabama

Finding a veterinary technician school near Phenix City AL to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and care for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Phenix City AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Phenix City AL laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school 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 videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Phenix City AL veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Phenix City AL area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Phenix City AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Phenix City AL veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Phenix City AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Phenix City AL veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Phenix City AL programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Phenix City AL home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Phenix City AL. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Phenix City

Chosse the Best Phenix City Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must 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 support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Phenix City Alabama.

 

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