Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pikesville MD

How to Select a Vet Tech School near Pikesville Maryland

Pikesville MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Pikesville MD may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Pikesville MD

cat with cone after surgery in Pikesville MD One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Pikesville MD veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade 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 involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Pikesville

student attending online vet tech school in Pikesville MD An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Pikesville MD veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school 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 self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Pikesville MD Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Pikesville MD vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Pikesville MD area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Pikesville MD area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Pikesville MD veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get 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 practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Pikesville MD veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian 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 veterinary technician college can 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 lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Pikesville MD veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pikesville MD programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pikesville MD home, you need to make certain 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 school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt 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 could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pikesville MD. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pikesville MD?

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

Pikesville, Maryland

Pikesville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.

The population was 30,764 at the 2010 census.[1] The corridor along Interstate 795, which links Pikesville, Owings Mills and Reisterstown to the Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695), contains one of the larger Jewish populations in Maryland.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32.1 km2), of which 32.0 square kilometres (12.4 sq mi) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.22%, is water.[3]

Select the Ideal Vet Tech School near Pikesville MD

Pikesville MD vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Pikesville MD.