Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Plainfield IN

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Plainfield Indiana

Plainfield IN vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Plainfield IN might initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Plainfield IN

cat with cone after surgery in Plainfield IN One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Plainfield IN veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Plainfield

student attending online vet tech school in Plainfield IN An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Plainfield IN veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Plainfield IN Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Plainfield IN vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Plainfield IN area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of 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 thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Plainfield IN area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Indiana school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Plainfield IN vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Plainfield IN veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Plainfield IN vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Plainfield IN colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Plainfield IN home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school 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, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough 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 Plainfield IN. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Plainfield IN?

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

Plainfield, Illinois

The village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County (Na-Au-Say and Oswego townships). With the growth in the Chicago suburbs in the 1990s and 2000s, the village has seen a population increase, from 4,500 in 1990 to 28,000 in 2000 to more than 37,000 in 2007. It has the neighboring cities of Naperville and Joliet.

The village has established a community Preservation Commission and historic preservation ordinance. It is the home of the Lake Renwick Preserve, a county forest preserve used for birdwatching and other activities. Located south to Village Hall is Settler's Park, that includes lake, war monument, open space, and more. During the summers, Settler's Park brings concerts to the villagers of Plainfield, Illinois.[4]

The area was called Walkers' Grove until it was platted as Plainfield in 1841. It was originally settled by a large community of Potawatomi, and the land was later bequeathed to the United States as part of the Treaty of St. Louis (1816) with the Council of the Three Fires. Indian Boundary Road aligns with the western border of the tract of land originally ceded.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Plainfield IN

Plainfield IN vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Plainfield IN.