Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools South Lyon MI

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near South Lyon Michigan

South Lyon MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near South Lyon MI may at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in South Lyon MI

cat with cone after surgery in South Lyon MI Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the South Lyon MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in South Lyon

student attending online vet tech school in South Lyon MI An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local South Lyon MI veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask South Lyon MI Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask South Lyon MI vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the South Lyon MI area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of South Lyon MI area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some South Lyon MI veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with South Lyon MI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the South Lyon MI veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the South Lyon MI programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your South Lyon MI home, you must make sure that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Lyon MI. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near South Lyon MI?

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

South Lyon, Michigan

South Lyon is a city in Southwestern Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, in Metro Detroit. The population was 11,327 at the 2010 census.[6] The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area, which had a population of 106,139 according to the 2000 census. South Lyon is located in Oakland County's Lyon Township, near the Livingston County and Washtenaw County lines. The city is 19 miles (31 km) north of Ann Arbor, 45 miles (72 km) west of Detroit and 58 miles (93 km) east of Lansing.

South Lyon was founded in 1832 and was called Thompson's Corners. In the same year, the surrounding township was named Lyon for Lucius Lyon, a member of the State Legislature. The village was given a name for its location within the township. South Lyon was incorporated as a village in 1873 and as a city in 1930[7]

Three rail lines once passed through South Lyon. In the summer of 1871, the Detroit, Lansing and Northern was built west from Plymouth on the way to Lansing and Ionia. In 1880, the predessor to the Ann Arbor Railroad built a line into town from Ann Arbor. The goal of this line was to continue on towards Pontiac but that did not occur under the original owners. The line was pulled up around 1890. In 1883 the Grand Trunk built their Jackson Branch from Pontiac to Jackson, which crossed the Pere Marquette at South Lyon. The GTW branch line continued to serve South Lyon until the early 1980s. The branch line is now a paved bicycle trail through town and Reynold Sweet Parkway follows the original route. Today, South Lyon hosts the CSX main line from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and a passing track is located there.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near South Lyon MI

South Lyon MI vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative 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 included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in South Lyon MI.