How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Georgia

Veterinary Technician Job Description

All daily obligations in veterinary clinics and animal shelters are entrusted to the veterinary technician as veterinarians are in charge of more serious work.

Pet owners rely on them and believe that they are qualified enough to help their beloved animals.

A veterinary technician performs countless demanding responsibilities and for those who want to have a career as a veterinary technician, it is advisable to get acquainted with the job responsibilities and educational requirements before getting involved in this demanding occupation.

Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Georgia

Georgia has to offer various vocational schools and colleges that introduce students to the profession of a veterinary technician.

These training programs are intended to teach students about medical terminology, restraining techniques, proper ways to treat animals and they are the best path to get proper education for the licensing examination.

However, the attention should be paid when choosing the program since not all are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.

Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Georgia

In Georgia, schools determine the requirements for the application but a high school diploma or GED is obligatory.

Prerequisite courses are allowed to be finished while you are in high school by some of the programs.

Some programs require rabies vaccination, proof of residency, essay writing, an interview, a minimum GPA of 2.0 in high school, a drug test, a background investigation, and many other requirements.

Once you chose which program you would like to take it is good to get acquainted with the admission requirements before application which can be found on their websites.

Nevertheless, make sure to choose only the accredited programs.

The veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA in Georgia are:

• Athens Technical College
• Fort Valley State University
• Gwinnett Technical College
• Ogeechee Technical College
• Southern Regional Technical College

A veterinary technician education takes two to three years and covers subjects closely related to veterinary science.

Besides classroom lessons, some classes are done in labs to provide you experience.

Also, an internship is compulsory in the final semester.

It lasts 500 hours in a clinical setting where you will be evaluated by the supervisor and you should put all the achieved knowledge into practice.

The courses usually cost $100 per credit hour and insurance, lab coats, and uniforms are not included in this price

This is tuition for citizens, while out of state tuition can be two to three times higher.

Georgia has reciprocity agreements with some states meaning that the achieved license in another state is accepted by Georgia law.

When the traditional financial aid is in question, Georgia has to offer the HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) program.

Through the Georgia Student Finance Commission, students can obtain financial aid assistance and get informed about the application processes on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.

However, bear in mind the fact that not all schools participate in federal student loan programs and double-check before enrolling in their program.

Veterinary Technician Examination and License

The appropriate education is finished and you got your Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology, but you are still not allowed to work.

You can start working only after taking and passing the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination) which costs $300 and consist of 150 questions related to the subjects you have studied at school.

The Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine is in charge of licensure of veterinary technicians and it requires that a veterinary technician renew the license every second year by completing ten hours of continuing education.

Five hours of additional education can be done online.

Job Prospects in Georgia

The job opportunities in Georgia are equal for all the applicants and who will be employed is determined by the employers.

Georgia has to offer a lot of animal clinics and hospitals where veterinary technicians can find work.

Your path to the perfect employer can be easier by visiting any of the sites where you can find information about employers:

• Georgia Veterinary Technician and Assistant Association
• Georgia Veterinary Medical Association
• Veterinary Career Network
• National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
• Vet Tech Life.

Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Georgia

When deciding where to apply for the job, it is good to pay attention to the salary of the veterinary technician in those areas and cities.

The more successful animal hospital will look for a veterinary technician who is ready to meet their daily duties and who is more eager to advance in his/her career, but at the same time will have much more daily obligations, thus earning higher salaries.

The salary might also depend on social factors, development of the region where the animal facility is and the number of people who possess animals.

The lowest salaries are in Columbus estimated at $ 32979 while salary might reach up to $ 35951 in Atlanta per year.

Regional Salary in Georgia

Veterinary Technician’s Duties

A veterinary technician is assisting a veterinarian in all the examinations and treatments that he/she does every day.

A technician might be in charge of dental procedures, anesthesia, blood draws, x-rays or urinalysis.

The contact with the patient, record keeping and advising are veterinary technician daily obligations.

Working with animals is a challenging job and you can never predict what would happen.

Because they can work in various facilities and with both domestic and wild animals, the veterinary technician education is designed to prepare them for all types of work.

The ideal veterinary technician should be familiar with all different types of animals, comfortable working with all kinds of them, as well as successful in communicating with upset and distressed pet owners.

Last but not least, they need to think about and take care of themselves, since animals might be aggressive in those painful moments and might hurt them.

All in all, the job of a veterinary technician has myriad difficulties and these people should be more respected.

Veterinary Technicians by State