Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Southfield MI

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Southfield Michigan

Southfield MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Southfield MI might initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Southfield MI

cat with cone after surgery in Southfield MI Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote 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 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 Southfield MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Southfield

student attending online vet tech school in Southfield MI An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Southfield MI veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Southfield MI Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Southfield MI vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer 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 Southfield MI area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Southfield MI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Southfield MI veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Southfield MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Southfield MI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate 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 bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Southfield MI schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed 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 Southfield MI home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Southfield MI. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Southfield MI?

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

Southfield, Michigan

Southfield is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 71,739.[6] A part of Metro Detroit's upscale office market, the city's marque is a cluster of five golden skyscrapers – known as the "Golden Triangle" – that form the contemporary 2,200,000 square feet (204,400 m2) Southfield Town Center office complex with a Westin Hotel and a conference center. In addition, a 33-story luxury residential high-rise is separate from the complex. To the west, near the confluence of I-696/Reuther Freeway and M-10/Lodge Freeway, is the American Center.

Southfield was surveyed in 1817 according to the plan by Michigan territorial governor Lewis Cass.[7] The first settlers came from nearby Birmingham and Royal Oak, Michigan, as well as the states of New York and Vermont. The area that would become Southfield was settled by John Daniels in 1823. Among the founders were the Heth, Stephens, Harmon, McClelland and Thompson families.

Town 1 north, 10 east was first organized as Ossewa Township on July 12, 1830, but the name was changed seventeen days later to Southfield Township.[7] The township took its name from its location in the "south fields" of Bloomfield Township. A US post office was established in 1833 and the first town hall built in 1873.

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Southfield MI

Southfield MI vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Southfield MI.