Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pembroke Pines FL

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Pembroke Pines Florida

Pembroke Pines FL vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Pembroke Pines FL may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Pembroke Pines FL

cat with cone after surgery in Pembroke Pines FL Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Pembroke Pines FL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Pembroke Pines FL labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Pembroke Pines

student attending online vet tech school in Pembroke Pines FL An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Pembroke Pines FL veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Pembroke Pines FL Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Pembroke Pines FL vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Pembroke Pines FL area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Pembroke Pines FL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Florida school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Pembroke Pines FL veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Pembroke Pines FL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Pembroke Pines FL veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pembroke Pines FL programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Pembroke Pines FL home, you need to make certain 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pembroke Pines FL. Some may only be able to attend classes 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 may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pembroke Pines FL?

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

Pembroke Pines, Florida

Pembroke Pines is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States. Pembroke Pines' current population is estimated at 168,587 as of 2016. The city had a population of 154,750 as of the 2010 census,[7] making it the second-most populous city in Broward County after Fort Lauderdale, and the 11th-most populous in Florida. It is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,012,331 people in 2015.

Pembroke Pines was officially incorporated on January 16, 1960. The city's name, Pembroke Pines, is traced back to Sir Edward Reed, a Member of Britain's Parliament for the County of Pembroke in 1874, who purchased and farmed land in the 1880s which today occupies much of what is now the nearby city of Dania Beach. The road put through his land came to be known as Pembroke Road. When incorporating, the mayor (Dr. Kipnis) suggested the name Pembroke Pines because of the pine trees growing near Pembroke Road.[citation needed]

The first inhabitants of the area were American Indians who first appeared about 4,000 years ago. Skeletal remains of animal hunters dating back about 10,000 years were found around Broward County, showing that perhaps human beings had lived in the area even earlier.[citation needed]

Select the Ideal Vet Tech School near Pembroke Pines FL

Pembroke Pines FL vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pembroke Pines FL.