Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Prattville Alabama

Finding a veterinary technician school near Prattville AL to achieve your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous challenge. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan 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 devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Prattville AL veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties 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 typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Prattville AL area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Prattville AL area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Prattville AL veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Prattville AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to 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 there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching 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 assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Prattville AL veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Prattville AL colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Prattville AL home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Prattville AL. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Prattville

Enroll in the Best Prattville Vet Technologist College

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Prattville Alabama.

 

Prattville Vet Tech Colleges | Prattville Veterinary Technician Schools