How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Kennesaw Georgia
Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinarian school near Kennesaw GA could at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different duties of vet techs and assistants and the training alternatives offered.
The Role of a Vet Technician and Assistant
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Kennesaw GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near Kennesaw GA. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or Kennesaw GA area research facilities also.
Online Veterinary Degree Programs
An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at an area Kennesaw GA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet technician or assistant program may be the ideal option for you.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Degree Programs
By now you probably have determined which veterinarian certificate or degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in Georgia as well as across the United States, you need to 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 tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school 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 Kennesaw GA veterinary assistant and tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary assistant or tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among 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 verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Kennesaw GA veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Kennesaw GA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet technician or assistant is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with regional veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local Kennesaw GA vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed 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 might indicate that the Kennesaw GA program has an excellent reputation within the vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Kennesaw GA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from home or work, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the Kennesaw GA campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the Georgia vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered near Kennesaw GA before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.
Why Did You Want to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary job, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that recruiters typically ask veterinary candidates is "What compelled you to choose veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not merely the private reasons you might have for becoming a veterinary technician, but also what qualities and abilities you have that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should organize several ideas about how you want to answer them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding vet tech and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down several ideas and topics that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.Enroll in the Best Vet Assistant College near Kennesaw GA
Enrolling in the ideal vet assistant or tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary assistant or tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary techs, assistants and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided 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 selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, tech or technologist in Kennesaw GA.
A Little Bit About Kennesaw GA
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States, located in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census.[4] Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history. During the Civil War, Kennesaw was the staging ground for the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862. The city is perhaps best known nationally for its mandatory gun-possession ordinance.[5]
As the Western and Atlantic Railroad was being built in the late 1830s, shanties arose to house the workers. These were near a big spring. A grade up from the Etowah River became known as "the big grade to the shanties", then "Big Shanty Grade", and finally "Big Shanty".[6]
The name "Kennesaw" is derived from the Cherokee word gah-nee-sah, meaning cemetery or burial ground.[7]
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