Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Beltsville MD

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Beltsville Maryland

Beltsville MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Beltsville MD could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Beltsville MD

cat with cone after surgery in Beltsville MD Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Beltsville MD veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain 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 involved in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore 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 job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Beltsville

student attending online vet tech school in Beltsville MD An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Beltsville MD veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Beltsville MD Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Beltsville MD vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Beltsville MD area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Beltsville MD area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Beltsville MD veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Beltsville MD veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Beltsville MD veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Beltsville MD colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Beltsville MD home, you must 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, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger 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 increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Beltsville MD. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Beltsville MD?

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

Beltsville, Maryland

Beltsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States.[1] The community was named for Truman Belt, a local landowner. The population was 16,772 at the 2010 census.[2] Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.[3]

Beltsville is located at 39°2′15″N 76°55′4″W / 39.03750°N 76.91778°W / 39.03750; -76.91778 (39.037509, −76.917847),[4] adjacent to the Montgomery County – Prince George's County line. It is about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the Maryland border with Washington, D.C.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Beltsville has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km2), of which 7.1 square miles (18.5 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.38%, is water.[5]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech College near Beltsville MD

Beltsville MD vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Beltsville MD.