Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Jordan MI

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near East Jordan Michigan

East Jordan MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near East Jordan MI could initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in East Jordan MI

cat with cone after surgery in East Jordan MI Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to 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 guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the East Jordan MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 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 possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in East Jordan MI labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in East Jordan

student attending online vet tech school in East Jordan MI An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local East Jordan MI veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask East Jordan MI Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask East Jordan MI vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the East Jordan MI area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many East Jordan MI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some East Jordan MI vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with East Jordan MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the East Jordan MI veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the East Jordan MI schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding 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 School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your East Jordan MI home, you have to confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 East Jordan MI. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Jordan MI?

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

East Jordan, Michigan

The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles (19 km) to the northwest and with US 131 at Mancelona, 18 miles (29 km) to the south. M-32 has its western terminus in the city and connects with US 131 about 16 miles (26 km) to the east and with I-75 at Gaylord about 29 miles (47 km) to the east.

East Jordan was founded sometime in the 1870s when a logging mill was built along the Jordan River near the town. There were originally two places; East Jordan itself began with a store built by William F. Empey, a Canadian immigrant, in 1874. There was also a place called South Arm. The two locales merged in 1878. It was incorporated as a village in 1887 and as a city in 1911.[6]

The town grew quickly, and by 1890, it boasted a large ironworks (the East Jordan Iron Works still operates today), a feed mill, and a population of nearly 1000. By the turn of the century, the city was being serviced by two railroads. With these two railroad connections, East Jordan quickly grew into a major manufacturing center. To this day, four industrial corporations still operate within the town.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech Program near East Jordan MI

East Jordan MI vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to 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 selection. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in East Jordan MI.