Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Burtonsville MD

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Burtonsville Maryland

Burtonsville MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Burtonsville MD might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Burtonsville MD

cat with cone after surgery in Burtonsville MD Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Burtonsville MD veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements 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 completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced 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 examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Burtonsville

student attending online vet tech school in Burtonsville MD An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Burtonsville MD veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Burtonsville MD Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Burtonsville MD vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Burtonsville MD area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed 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, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Burtonsville MD area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Burtonsville MD veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Burtonsville MD veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Burtonsville MD veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Burtonsville MD schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback 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 College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Burtonsville MD home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Burtonsville MD. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Burtonsville MD?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Burtonsville Maryland area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Burtonsville, Maryland

In colonial times, the area was referred to as the Patuxent Hundred and later the Eastern Branch Hundred, a community comprising about 100 inhabitants. Prince George's County Court recorded that on September 27, 1699, Thomas Wells and Thomas Pindell were appointed to be the overseers of Patuxant Hundred.[1]

Among some of the earliest land grants are Maiden's Fancy, a 580-acre (2.3 km2) tract surveyed for Neal Clark in 1700, and Bear Bacon nearby, a 600-acre (2.4 km2) tract of land surveyed in 1703 for a Mark Richardson. Another prominent land holder was Richard Snowden, an iron master, who held various land patents in the area, including Snowdens Manor (surveyed 1715) consisting of an impressive 9,265 acres (37.49 km2) and Snowdens Mill (surveyed 1723) occupying an additional 546 acres (2.21 km2). From these larger tracts, among others, were carved smaller tracts of land which were either rented or sold off to planters and the like.[citation needed]

The community of Burtonsville, originally called Burton's, takes its name from Isaac Burton, who in 1825 bought out his siblings' shares of his father's land and became the major landowner in the area. He and his wife Keturah had 17 children, many of whom stayed in the area as adults. The community itself grew around the intersection of Old Columbia Pike and the road to Sandy Spring. In the 1850s Isaac Burton became the first postmaster of the newly established post office in the vicinity, which operated out of his store at the intersection. Burtonsville's core area today continues to center around the intersection of Maryland Route 198 and US Route 29.[2]

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Burtonsville MD

Burtonsville MD vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics 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 decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burtonsville MD.