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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Dunedin Florida

Dunedin FL vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Dunedin FL might at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Dunedin FL

cat with cone after surgery in Dunedin FL One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to 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 even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Dunedin FL veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dunedin FL labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Dunedin

student attending online vet tech school in Dunedin FL An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Dunedin FL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in 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 complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Dunedin FL Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Dunedin FL vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dunedin FL area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded 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 confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Dunedin FL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Florida school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Dunedin FL vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Dunedin FL veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Dunedin FL veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Dunedin FL colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Dunedin FL home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Dunedin FL. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dunedin FL?

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

Dunedin, Florida

Dunedin /dəˈniːdɪn/ is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The population was 35,321 at the 2010 census.[5]

Dunedin is home to several beaches, including Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island, and Caladesi Island State Park, which is consistently rated among the best beaches in the world.[6] Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key where buildings do not completely obscure the view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico beyond; a 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch of Edgewater Drive (also known as Alternate US 19) south of downtown offers views of St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Beach, and Caladesi Island. Downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach are a 6-mile (10 km) drive south on Edgewater.

The downtown business district is notable for its absence of large commercial signage, corporate franchise restaurants or chain retail stores. The Pinellas Trail, a 39-mile-long (63 km) bicycle and pedestrian trail that traverses all of Pinellas County, bisects downtown Dunedin. A large portion of the trail lies on the former roadbed of the Orange Belt Railway, the first railroad in Pinellas County, which arrived in 1888.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Dunedin FL

Dunedin FL vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dunedin FL.