Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Merrillville IN

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Merrillville Indiana

Merrillville IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Merrillville IN might initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. 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 Merrillville IN

cat with cone after surgery in Merrillville IN Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Merrillville IN veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent 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 complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Merrillville

student attending online vet tech school in Merrillville IN An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Merrillville IN veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Merrillville IN Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Merrillville IN vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Merrillville IN area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Merrillville IN area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Merrillville IN veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Merrillville IN veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate 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 schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Merrillville IN vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Merrillville IN programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Merrillville IN home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Merrillville IN. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Merrillville IN?

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

Merrillville, Indiana

Merrillville /ˈmɛrəlvɪl/ is a town in Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana. The population was 35,246 at the 2010 census. Merrillville is in east-central Lake County, in the Chicago metropolitan area. On January 1, 2015, Merrillville became the most populated town in Indiana, as Fishers in Hamilton County was converted from a town to a city.

According to the 2010 census, Merrillville has a total area of 33.26 square miles (86.14 km2), of which 33.22 square miles (86.04 km2) (or 99.88%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (or 0.12%) is water.[7]

The Lincoln Highway runs through Merrillville. The original alignment of Lincoln Highway is known as 73rd Avenue (also called Old Lincoln Highway) in Merrillville, while the current Lincoln Highway (US 30) is known as 81st Avenue. State Road 53 (Broadway) and State Road 55 (Taft Street) traverse the town from north to south.

Select the Best Vet Tech College near Merrillville IN

Merrillville IN vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple 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 animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential 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 provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Merrillville IN.