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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Novi Michigan

Novi MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Novi MI may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Novi MI

cat with cone after surgery in Novi MI One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Novi MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Novi MI laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Novi

student attending online vet tech school in Novi MI An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Novi MI veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Novi MI Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Novi MI vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, 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 technical schools in the Novi MI area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Novi MI area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers 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 complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Novi MI vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Novi MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Novi MI vet community and has a substantial 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 a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Novi MI programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations 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? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Novi MI home, you need 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school 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 classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Novi MI. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Novi MI?

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

Novi, Michigan

Novi (/ˈnoʊvaɪ/ NOH-vy) is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,224, an increase over the 2000 census count of 47,386. The city is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of the center of Detroit, and about 8 miles (13 km) west of the western border of Detroit. It is about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of the center of Ann Arbor. The city is located within the boundaries of the survey township of Novi Township. The remaining unincorporated township is only a tiny fraction surrounded by the city.

Novi was originally a township organized in 1832 from Farmington Township. The name Novi was offered by resident Dr. J. C. Emery, at the suggestion of his wife. Residents were reportedly looking for a shorter name than Farmington.[6]

One misconception is that it was named after the 6th toll gate (No. VI) on the Grand River toll road. But in fact the township was named in 1832 and the toll road was not constructed until the 1850s. A similar claim is made about the township being stop number 6 on the railroad. However, the Holly, Wayne & Monroe Railway (now CSX Transportation) was not constructed through the township until 1870–71, almost 40 years after the township was named. A third popular misconception is that Novi was the sixth stagecoach stop outside of Detroit.[7]

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Novi MI

Novi MI vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on 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 included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Novi MI.