Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Walled Lake MI

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Walled Lake Michigan

Walled Lake MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Walled Lake MI may at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Walled Lake MI

cat with cone after surgery in Walled Lake MI One of the first decisions that you will need 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 training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Walled Lake MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, 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 typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher 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 emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Walled Lake MI labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Walled Lake

student attending online vet tech school in Walled Lake MI An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Walled Lake MI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Walled Lake MI Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Walled Lake MI vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Walled Lake MI area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 thorough screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Walled Lake MI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Walled Lake MI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Walled Lake MI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools 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 Walled Lake MI veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Walled Lake MI schools 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 monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Walled Lake MI home, you need to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Walled Lake MI. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may 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 Walled Lake MI?

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

Walled Lake, Michigan

The town's name is said to have been given by the first Euro-American settler, Walter Hewitt, in 1825. Upon his arrival, he noticed what appeared to be a stone wall along the lake's western bank, possibly constructed by earlier Potawatomi Indian tribes.[7]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 6,999 people, 3,347 households, and 1,771 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,210.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,239.6/km2). There were 3,689 housing units at an average density of 1,692.2 per square mile (653.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.7% White, 4.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 3,347 households of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.1% were non-families. 39.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.82.

Select the Right Vet Tech College near Walled Lake MI

Walled Lake MI vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals 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 field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Walled Lake MI.