Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Silver Spring MD

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Silver Spring Maryland

Silver Spring MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Silver Spring MD may initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Silver Spring MD

cat with cone after surgery in Silver Spring MD One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary 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 main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Silver Spring MD veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Silver Spring

student attending online vet tech school in Silver Spring MD An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Silver Spring MD veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. 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 independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Silver Spring MD Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Silver Spring MD vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Silver Spring MD area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Silver Spring MD area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Silver Spring MD veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Silver Spring MD veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some 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 could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Silver Spring MD vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Silver Spring MD schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Silver Spring MD home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college 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 may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, 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 working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Silver Spring MD. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Silver Spring MD?

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

Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located inside the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 76,716 according to 2013 estimates by the United States Census Bureau, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown, and the second largest in Montgomery County after Germantown.[2] Inner Silver Spring consists of the following neighborhoods: Downtown Silver Spring, East Silver Spring, Woodside, North Woodside, Woodside Park, North Hills Sligo Park, Long Branch, Montgomery Knolls, Franklin Knolls, Indian Spring Terrace, Indian Spring Village, Clifton Park Village, New Hampshire Estates, Oakview, and Woodmoor. Outer Silver Spring consist of the following neighborhoods: Four Corners, Wheaton, Glenmont, Forest Glen, Aspen Hill, Hillandale, White Oak, Colesville, Colesville Park, Cloverly, Calverton, Briggs Chaney, Greencastle, Northwood Park, Sunset Terrace, Fairland, Lyttonsville, and Kemp Mill.

The urbanized, oldest, and southernmost part of Silver Spring is a major business hub that lies at the north apex of Washington, D.C. As of 2004, the Central Business District (CBD) held 7,254,729 square feet (673,986 m2) of office space, 5216 dwelling units and 17.6 acres (71,000 m2) of parkland. The population density of this CBD area of Silver Spring was 15,600 per square mile all within 360 acres (1.5 km2) and approximately 2.5 square miles (6 km2) in the CBD/downtown area.[3] The community has recently undergone a significant renaissance, with the addition of major retail, residential, and office developments.

Silver Spring takes its name from a mica-flecked spring discovered there in 1840 by Francis Preston Blair, who subsequently bought much of the surrounding land. Acorn Park, tucked away in an area of south Silver Spring away from the main downtown area, is believed to be the site of the original spring.[4][5]

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Silver Spring MD

Silver Spring MD vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Silver Spring MD.