Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Lansing MI

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near East Lansing Michigan

East Lansing MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near East Lansing MI could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in East Lansing MI

cat with cone after surgery in East Lansing MI Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the East Lansing MI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can 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 East Lansing MI laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in East Lansing

student attending online vet tech school in East Lansing MI An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local East Lansing MI veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask East Lansing MI Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask East Lansing MI vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the East Lansing MI area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in 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 review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of East Lansing MI area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some East Lansing MI veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with East Lansing MI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of 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 practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the East Lansing MI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the East Lansing MI programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding 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 College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your East Lansing MI home, you have to make sure 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 near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide 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. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near East Lansing MI. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Lansing MI?

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

East Lansing, Michigan

East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan directly east of Lansing, the state capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, with the rest in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the 2010 census, an increase from 46,420 in 2000. It is best known as the home of Michigan State University.

East Lansing was an important junction of two major Native American groups: the Potawatomi and Fox.[6] By 1850, the Lansing and Howell Plank Road Company was established to connect a toll road to the Detroit and Howell Plank Road, improving travel between Detroit and Lansing, which cut right through what is now East Lansing. The toll road was finished in 1853, and included seven tollhouses between Lansing and Howell.[7]

Michigan State University was founded in 1855 and established in what is now East Lansing in 1857. For the first four decades, the students and faculty lived almost entirely on the college campus. A few commuted from Lansing, and that number increased when a streetcar line was built in the 1890s, but there were few places to live in the then-rural area surrounding the campus.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near East Lansing MI

East Lansing MI vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support 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 profession. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in East Lansing MI.