Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lakeland FL - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Lakeland Florida

Lakeland FL vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Lakeland FL might at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Lakeland FL

cat with cone after surgery in Lakeland FL One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Lakeland FL veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lakeland FL laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Lakeland

student attending online vet tech school in Lakeland FL An option that might 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. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lakeland FL 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 materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Lakeland FL Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lakeland FL vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lakeland FL area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college 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 programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Lakeland FL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Florida school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Lakeland FL veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Lakeland FL veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lakeland FL vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lakeland FL schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lakeland FL home, you need to make sure 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 close by 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 higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lakeland FL. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lakeland FL?

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

Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. The westernmost city in Polk County, it is part of the Tampa Bay Area. According to the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 100,710.[2] Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area (coterminous with Polk County), which had an estimated population of 623,009 in July 2013 based on data from the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research. It is twinned with Richmond Hill, Ontario; Imabari, Ehime, Japan; Bălți, Moldova; Portmore, Jamaica; and Chongming County, Shanghai, China through the Lakeland chapter of Sister Cities International.

Native Americans began to live in the area 12,000 years ago. European-American settlers arrived in Lakeland from South Carolina in the 1870s. The city expanded in the 1880s with the arrival of rail service, with the first freedmen railway workers settling here in 1883.[6] They and European immigrants also came because of new jobs in the large phosphate industry that developed. Lakeland is home to the 1,267-acre Circle B Bar Reserve.

The first Paleo-Indians reached the central Florida area near the end of the last ice age, as they followed big game south.[23][24] As the ice melted and sea levels rose, these Native Americans ended up staying and thrived on the peninsula for thousands of years. By the time the first Spanish conquistadors arrived, more than 250,000 Native Americans were living on the peninsula.[citation needed] Some of these first early tribes were the Tocobago, Timucua, and Calusa. In 1527, a Spanish map showed a settlement near the Rio de la Paz.[23][24] The arrival of the Spanish turned out to be disastrous to these Native American tribes. Within 150 years, the majority of the pre-Columbian Native American peoples of Florida had been wiped out. Those who had not succumbed to diseases such as smallpox or yellow fever were either killed or enslaved.[23][24][25][26] Little is left of these first Native Americans cultures in Polk County except for scant archaeological records, including a few personal artifacts and shell mounds. Eventually, the remnants of these tribes merged with the Creek Indians who had arrived from the north and became the Seminole Indian tribe.[24][26]

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech School near Lakeland FL

Lakeland FL vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. 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 animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lakeland FL.