Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools White Lake MI

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near White Lake Michigan

White Lake MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near White Lake MI could initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in White Lake MI

cat with cone after surgery in White Lake MI One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the White Lake MI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in White Lake MI laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in White Lake

student attending online vet tech school in White Lake MI An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local White Lake MI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select 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 disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask White Lake MI Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask White Lake MI vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the White Lake MI area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many White Lake MI area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some White Lake MI veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with White Lake MI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the White Lake MI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the White Lake MI colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations 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 Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your White Lake MI home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at 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 at night near White Lake MI. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near White Lake MI?

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

White Lake Township, Michigan

White Lake Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Together with its two unincorporated communities, the township makes up part of the Detroit metropolitan area outskirts. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 30,019.[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.2 square miles (96 km2), of which 33.7 square miles (87 km2) is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), or 9.44%, is water.

Several of the community's large parcels have been preserved as state recreation areas and county parks. Rural residential development and lake living is typical, as the township has 21 lakes within its borders.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech College near White Lake MI

White Lake MI vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools 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 choice. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in White Lake MI.