Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Drayton Plains MI

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Drayton Plains Michigan

Drayton Plains MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Drayton Plains MI might at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Drayton Plains MI

cat with cone after surgery in Drayton Plains MI Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Drayton Plains MI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance 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 gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational 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 involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the only real 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Drayton Plains MI laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Drayton Plains

student attending online vet tech school in Drayton Plains MI An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Drayton Plains MI veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure 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 clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Drayton Plains MI Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Drayton Plains MI vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Drayton Plains MI area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Drayton Plains MI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Drayton Plains MI veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through 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 means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Drayton Plains MI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Drayton Plains MI vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Drayton Plains MI colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Drayton Plains MI home, you have to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, 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 charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Drayton Plains MI. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Drayton Plains MI?

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

Drayton Plains, Michigan

In 1818, the Land Office opened in Detroit offering land for $2.00 an acre.[4] Horatio Foster, Jonathan Perry, and brothers Harvey and Austin Durfee were among the first to take advantage of the opportunity to become land owners in the wilderness north of Detroit.

In 1822, Horatio Foster and his wife were the first to settle in what would become Drayton Plains, although just temporarily as they moved northward a few years later where they permanently settled. In 1823, the first to establish permanent homes in Drayton Plains were Jonathan Perry, Harvey Durfee and Austin Durfee.

In 1825, the Erie Canal opened, linking the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. The canal made travelling from the east easier, which resulted in an influx of settlers moving into the Michigan Territory.[5]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near Drayton Plains MI

Drayton Plains MI vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics 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 pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Drayton Plains MI.