Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Gaithersburg MD

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Gaithersburg Maryland

Gaithersburg MD vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Gaithersburg MD could initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Gaithersburg MD

cat with cone after surgery in Gaithersburg MD Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Gaithersburg MD veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Gaithersburg MD laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Gaithersburg

student attending online vet tech school in Gaithersburg MD An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several 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 completed as an internship or work study program at a local Gaithersburg MD veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Gaithersburg MD Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Gaithersburg MD vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Gaithersburg MD area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Gaithersburg MD area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maryland school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Gaithersburg MD veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Gaithersburg MD veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Gaithersburg MD vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Gaithersburg MD schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Gaithersburg MD home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within 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 higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Gaithersburg MD. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness 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 Gaithersburg MD?

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

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Gaithersburg ( pronunciation (help·info)), officially the City of Gaithersburg, is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland. At the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, Gaithersburg had a population of 59,933, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville.[6] Gaithersburg is located to the northwest of Washington, D.C., and is considered a suburb and a primary city within the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gaithersburg was incorporated as a town in 1878 and as a city in 1968.

Gaithersburg is divided into east and west sections, separated by Interstate 270. The eastern section of the city is older and is the original portion of the town before more recent growth. Landmarks and buildings from that time can still be seen in many places but especially in the historic central business district of Gaithersburg called "Olde Towne". The east side also includes Lakeforest Mall, City Hall, and the Montgomery County Fair grounds, and Bohrer Park (a well-known joint community recreation center and outdoor water park for kids and families). The west side of the city has many wealthier neighborhoods that were designed with smart growth techniques and embrace New Urbanism. These include the award-winning Kentlands community, the Lakelands community, and the Washingtonian Center (better known as The Rio), a popular shopping/business district. Consumers often come to this area during Black Friday and other shopping holidays for the deals and variety of huge brand name stores like Target and Dick's Sporting Goods, and smaller stores like Francesca's and Blue Mercury. Two New Urbanism communities are under construction, including Watkins Mill Town Center (Casey East and West), and the massive "Science City". The state has a bus rapid transit line, Corridor Cities Transitway or "CCT", planned for the western portion of the city starting at Shady Grove Metro Station and connecting all the high density western Gaithersburg neighborhoods with a total of eight stops planned in the city.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is headquartered in Gaithersburg directly west of I-270.[N 1] Other major employers in the city include IBM, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services business area headquarters, MedImmune (a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca), and the French multinational corporation, Sodexo. Gaithersburg is also the location of the garrison of the U.S. Army Reserve's 220th Military Police Brigade.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near Gaithersburg MD

Gaithersburg MD vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Gaithersburg MD.