Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Grand Rapids MI

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Grand Rapids Michigan

Grand Rapids MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Grand Rapids MI could initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Grand Rapids MI

cat with cone after surgery in Grand Rapids MI One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Grand Rapids MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. 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 essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the main distinction 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 potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Grand Rapids

student attending online vet tech school in Grand Rapids MI An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Grand Rapids MI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical 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 program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Grand Rapids MI Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Grand Rapids MI vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Grand Rapids MI area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of 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 demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Grand Rapids MI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Grand Rapids MI veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Grand Rapids MI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Grand Rapids MI veterinary 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 placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Grand Rapids MI colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Grand Rapids MI home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Grand Rapids MI. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Grand Rapids MI?

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

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, and the largest city in West Michigan. It is on the Grand River about 30 miles (48 km) east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 1,005,648, and the combined statistical area of Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland had a population of 1,321,557. Grand Rapids is the county seat of Kent County.[7]

A historic furniture-manufacturing center, Grand Rapids is home to five of the world's leading office furniture companies, and is nicknamed Furniture City. Its more common modern nickname of River City[by whom?] refers to the landmark river for which it was named. The city and surrounding communities are economically diverse, based in the health care, information technology, automotive, aviation, and consumer goods manufacturing industries, among others.

For thousands of years, succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples occupied the area. Over 2000 years ago, people associated with the Hopewell culture occupied the Grand River Valley.[9] Later, a tribe from the Ottawa River traveled to the Grand River valley, fighting three battles with the Prairie Indians who were established in the area.[10] The tribe later split, with the Chippewas settling in the northern lower peninsula, the Pottawatomies staying south of the Kalamazoo River and the Ottawa staying in central Michigan.[10]

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician School near Grand Rapids MI

Grand Rapids MI vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs 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 decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Grand Rapids MI.