Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Birmingham MI

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Birmingham Michigan

Birmingham MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Birmingham MI might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Birmingham MI

cat with cone after surgery in Birmingham MI Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Birmingham MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through 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 counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. 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 options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Birmingham MI laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Birmingham

student attending online vet tech school in Birmingham MI An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Birmingham MI veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Birmingham MI Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Birmingham MI vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Birmingham MI area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you select 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 thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Birmingham MI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Birmingham MI vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Birmingham MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum 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 high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Birmingham MI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Birmingham MI programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Birmingham MI home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Birmingham MI. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Birmingham MI?

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

Birmingham, Michigan

Birmingham is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located along the Woodward Corridor, between Royal Oak and Bloomfield Hills. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103.[8]

The area comprising what is now the city of Birmingham was part of land ceded by Native American tribes to the United States government by the 1807 Treaty of Detroit.[9] However, settlement was delayed first by the War of 1812 and subsequently by an unfavorable report by the Surveyor-General of the United States, Edward Tiffin, regarding the placement of Military Bounty Lands for veterans of the War of 1812.[10][11] Tiffin's report claimed that "There would not be an acre out of a hundred, if there would be one out of a thousand that would, in any case, admit cultivation." In 1818, Territorial Governor Lewis Cass led a group of men along the Indian Trail. The governor's party discovered that the swamp was not as extensive as Tiffin had supposed. Not long after Cass issued a more encouraging report about the land, interest quickened in its suitability for settlement.

The earliest land entry was made on January 28, 1819, by Colonel Benjamin Kendrick Pierce (brother of future U.S. President Franklin Pierce) for the northwest quarter of section 36. Colonel Pierce visited his land several times, but never settled on it.[12] In March 1818, John W. Hunter and his brother Daniel left Auburn, New York, by sleigh and traveled to Michigan by way of Upper Canada. They waited in Detroit for their father and other family members who arrived by schooner over Lake Erie in July. The family remained in Detroit until spring 1819 when John W. made an entry for the northeast quarter of section 36, now in the southeast section of current-day Birmingham. Lacking a proper land survey, John W. mistakenly built his log house on a tract later purchased by Elijah Willets. That house was later occupied by William Hall, a son-in-law of Elisha Hunter, while John W. Hunter built another log house a short distance to the southeast. On September 25, 1821, Elijah Willets made a land entry for the southwest quarter of section 25. Two days later, Major John Hamilton made an entry for the southeast quarter of section 25. Each of these initial land entries met at what is now the intersection of Maple Road and Pierce Street.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician College near Birmingham MI

Birmingham MI vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Birmingham MI.