Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Comstock Park MI

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Comstock Park Michigan

Comstock Park MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Comstock Park MI may at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical 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 ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Comstock Park MI

cat with cone after surgery in Comstock Park MI Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based 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 have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Comstock Park MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated 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 handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. 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 opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Comstock Park

student attending online vet tech school in Comstock Park MI An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Comstock Park MI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized 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 right option for you.

Things to Ask Comstock Park MI Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Comstock Park MI vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Comstock Park MI area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior 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 certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Comstock Park MI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Comstock Park MI veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Comstock Park MI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Comstock Park MI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Comstock Park MI programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Comstock Park MI home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Comstock Park MI. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Comstock Park MI?

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

Comstock Park, Michigan

Comstock Park is a census-designated place and unincorporated community located in Alpine Township and Plainfield Township in Kent County, Michigan in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area in Michigan, United States.[3][4][5]

Plainfield Township, with a population of 30,195 as of the 2000 census, makes up most of Comstock Park. As it is defined, Comstock Park's population is about 10,674. It sits roughly 7 miles (11 km) north of downtown Grand Rapids.

Comstock Park is known for its golf courses, having two courses and 45 total holes of golf in town. The best-known of these is Scott Lake Golf and Practice Center, the winner of the 2011 Michigan Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year" and the 2012 National Golf Course Owners Association "Golf Course of the Year.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician School near Comstock Park MI

Comstock Park MI vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Comstock Park MI.