Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lake Station IN

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Lake Station Indiana

Lake Station IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lake Station IN may initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Lake Station IN

cat with cone after surgery in Lake Station IN One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Lake Station IN veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with 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 veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Lake Station

student attending online vet tech school in Lake Station IN An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lake Station IN veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided 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 ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Lake Station IN Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Lake Station IN vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lake Station IN area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Lake Station IN area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Lake Station IN veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Lake Station IN veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Lake Station IN veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lake Station IN programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lake Station IN home, you must make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lake Station IN. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may 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 Lake Station IN?

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

Lake Station, Indiana

Initially, the site of modern Lake Station was the starting point of two Amerind trails leading to Fort Dearborn.[7] Later it became an early stagecoach depot stop, as the Fort Dearborn-Detroit Stagecoach Route passed through the site during the wet season.[7] The location became known as Lake Station as far back as 1851 when it began to serve as a depot, the western terminus of the Michigan Central Railroad[7] (on what would later become its Detroit to Chicago line). This was the first train station in Lake County.[7] The Michigan Central Railroad built a park and railroad shops around its two-story depot.[7] A year later, in April 1852, George Earle mapped out and platted a town[7] of about 6,500 acres (26 km2) on the site, continuing its name of Lake Station.

Being a bedroom community, Lake Station welcomed Abraham Lincoln to its Audubon Hotel, perhaps on more than one occasion, according to oral history. But George Pullman, who tried to negotiate for land in Lake Station for his proposed railcar company, never struck a deal and set up shop on the south side of Chicago instead. Prior to its current location in Crown Point, Indiana, the county seat was located on what is now the west end of Lake Station in a section called Liverpool, although it was a separate settlement at the time.

The name of Lake Station was officially changed to East Gary in 1908 in an attempt to lure executives from the nearby US Steel plant in Gary, Indiana into creating a suburban community. With another name change in 1977, primarily to disassociate itself from the urban decay and crime of Gary, the city reverted to its historical designation of Lake Station.

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Lake Station IN

Lake Station IN vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lake Station IN.