Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Howard City MI

How to Select a Vet Tech School near Howard City Michigan

Howard City MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Howard City MI might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Howard City MI

cat with cone after surgery in Howard City MI Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may 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 appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share 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 functions that they can perform within the Howard City MI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore 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 possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Howard City

student attending online vet tech school in Howard City MI An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Howard City MI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. 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 clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Howard City MI Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Howard City MI vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Howard City MI area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Howard City MI area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet 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 grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Howard City MI veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive 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 most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Howard City MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way 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 veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Howard City MI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify 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 may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Howard City MI colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Howard City MI home, you need to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Howard City MI. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm 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 issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Howard City MI?

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

Howard City, Michigan

Benjamin Ensley owned the land on which he, E. W. Muenscher, and Mr. Shaw began the settlement that Muenscher platted in 1868. It was named for William A. Howard, a Detroit railroad attorney. The Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad depot opened in 1869. A post office was established on January 12, 1870, with John B. Spencer as the first postmaster. It incorporated as a village in 1873. The post office name was shortened to "Howard" on February 2, 1895, but restored to Howard City on January 19, 1899.[6]

Main street was initially constructed on Ensley Street, which was named after early settler Benjamin Ensley. In 1883, however, many of the wooden buildings on Ensley street burned down. Main Street was then shifted over to Edgerton Street, where it still stands today. The Hudson Knife factory and The Skinner and Steenman sideboard factory were two of the earliest businesses. Later, Hudson Knife Co. went through changes and became the Joslin and eventually Olsen Knife Company, which had the somewhat famous jingle, "Fatty Fatty run for your life, here comes Skinny with an Olsen Knife." Howard City schools were combined with Sand Lake schools to the south in 1962, and renamed Tri County, because students from Kent, Montcalm, and Newaygo counties all attended. The school still runs under the same moniker today.

Tri County Area Schools is the main school district in Howard City. Schools include Tri County High School, Tri County Middle School, MacNaughten Elementary, Sand Lake Elementary and Edgerton Upper Elementary. The School mascot is the Viking. Sports include football, basketball, softball, baseball, wrestling, sideline cheer, competitive cheer, golf, track and field, cross country, bowling, poms and soccer. In 2009, the varsity softball team took a District title, but fell short at regionals to Petosky. Neighboring schools include Newaygo, Grant, Morley-Stanwood, Lakeview and Cedar Springs.

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Howard City MI

Howard City MI vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools 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 selection. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Howard City MI.