Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Washington MD

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Fort Washington Maryland

Fort Washington MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Fort Washington MD may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Fort Washington MD

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Washington MD Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire 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 factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Fort Washington MD veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared 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 veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fort Washington MD laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Fort Washington

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Washington MD An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Washington MD veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select 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 dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Fort Washington MD Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Fort Washington MD vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Fort Washington MD area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Fort Washington MD area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Fort Washington MD veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Fort Washington MD veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Fort Washington MD veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly 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 in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Fort Washington MD programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Washington MD home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Fort Washington MD. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Washington MD?

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

Fort Washington, Maryland

Fort Washington is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland. It borders the capital of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., situated just south of the downtown district.[2] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 23,717.[3] It is a prosperous community with an African American majority population. The Fort Washington community is located west of Maryland Route 210, with some additional area to the east of the highway.

The community is named for Fort Washington, which upon its completion in 1809 was the only defensive fort protecting Washington, D.C. The fort is a stone structure and offered a good field of range for cannon fire at enemy advances on the Potomac River. During the War of 1812, the fort was quickly abandoned during a British advance. In 1844, a cannon exploded on the USS Princeton as it was passing Fort Washington.[4] During World War II, the US Army's Adjutant General's School was located at the fort, and had billeting for 362 officers and 2,526 enlisted persons.[5]

The site is now part of a very extensive park with views of the Potomac River and hiking paths. It is a scenic place for picnicking, fishing and outdoor recreation. (Admission is free to people entering after business hours and before sunset.)

Select the Right Vet Tech School near Fort Washington MD

Fort Washington MD vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering vet tech colleges 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 usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fort Washington MD.