How to Choose a Veterinary Technician College near Thomson Georgia
Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet school near Thomson GA could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. After they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet assistants and techs and the training options available.
The Role of a Vet Tech and Assistant
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Thomson GA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.
- 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 community college or trade school near Thomson GA. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Thomson GA area research facilities also.
Veterinarian Online Courses
An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at an area Thomson GA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet technician or assistant school may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Technologist Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary certificate or degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Georgia as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the Thomson GA veterinary assistant and technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary tech or assistant college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Thomson GA vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Georgia school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Thomson GA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet technician or assistant is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with area veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local Thomson GA veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech program can be difficult 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 might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the Thomson GA college has an excellent reputation within the vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Thomson GA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary assistant classes from home or work, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with 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, especially if the Thomson GA college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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 taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the Georgia veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered near Thomson GA before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Why Did You Decide to Be a Veterinary Assistant?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the questions that interviewers often ask veterinary candidates is "What compelled you to select veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not only the private reasons you may have for becoming a vet tech, but additionally what characteristics and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to organize several ideas about how you want to address them. Because there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you have that make you an exceptional vet tech and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.Pick the Best Vet Technician Degree Program near Thomson GA
Choosing the appropriate vet technician program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech or assistant programs must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Vet techs, assistants and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist in Thomson GA.
A Little Bit About Thomson GA
Atlanta
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the State of Georgia in the United States. With an estimated 2016 population of 472,522,[12] it is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5.7 million people and the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States.[6] Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County.
Atlanta was founded as a transportation hub at the intersection of two railroad lines in 1837. After being mostly burned to the ground during the American Civil War, the city rose from its ashes to become a national center of commerce and the unofficial capital of the "New South". During the 1960s, Atlanta became a major organizing center of the Civil Rights Movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and many other locals playing major roles in the movement's leadership. In the decades following, the city earned a reputation as "too busy to hate" for the relatively progressive views of its citizens and leaders compared to other cities in the Deep South.[13] During the Modern era, Atlanta has attained international prominence as a major air transportation hub, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being by far the world's busiest airport since 1998.[14][15][16][17]
Atlanta is rated a "beta(+)" world city that exerts a moderate impact upon global commerce, finance, research, technology, education, media, art, and entertainment.[18] It ranks 38th among world cities and 10th in the nation with a gross domestic product of $320Â billion.[19][20] Atlanta's economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors that include logistics, professional and business services, media operations, and information technology.[21] Atlanta has topographic features that include rolling hills and dense tree coverage, earning it the nickname of "the city in a forest."[22]Revitalization of Atlanta's neighborhoods, initially spurred by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, has intensified in the 21st century, altering the city's demographics, politics, and culture.[23][24]
More Cities of Interest in Georgia