Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Spring Arbor MI

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Spring Arbor Michigan

Spring Arbor MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Spring Arbor MI may initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Spring Arbor MI

cat with cone after surgery in Spring Arbor MI One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Spring Arbor MI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably 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 vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Spring Arbor MI labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Spring Arbor

student attending online vet tech school in Spring Arbor MI An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Spring Arbor MI veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Spring Arbor MI Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Spring Arbor MI vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Spring Arbor MI area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program 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 undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Spring Arbor MI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Spring Arbor MI veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? 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 programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Spring Arbor MI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Spring Arbor MI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Spring Arbor MI colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Spring Arbor MI home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Spring Arbor MI. Others may only be able to go to class 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 may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Spring Arbor MI?

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

Spring Arbor University

Developing from an earlier academy and junior college, in 1963 it established a four-year curriculum. Attaining university status in 1994, it is the second-largest evangelical Christian university in Michigan. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Spring Arbor University has developed in the late 20th century from a seminary founded in 1873 by leaders of the Free Methodist Church, particularly Edward Payson Hart. First Spring Arbor Seminary was established as a private academy for elementary and secondary grades. Located near the site of a former Potawatomi Indian village, the academy was built on property that formerly belonged to Central Michigan College (later renamed as Hillsdale College after moving to that city).

In 1923, the board of trustees voted to add a junior college to the academy. In 1929, the school was renamed as Spring Arbor Seminary and Junior College. Primary and intermediate classes were discontinued in 1930.

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Spring Arbor MI

Spring Arbor MI vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities 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 schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Spring Arbor MI.