Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Whitmore Lake MI

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Whitmore Lake Michigan

Whitmore Lake MI vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Whitmore Lake MI could at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Whitmore Lake MI

cat with cone after surgery in Whitmore Lake MI One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Whitmore Lake MI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Whitmore Lake

student attending online vet tech school in Whitmore Lake MI An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Whitmore Lake MI veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Whitmore Lake MI Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Whitmore Lake MI vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Whitmore Lake MI area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Whitmore Lake MI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Michigan school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Whitmore Lake MI vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Whitmore Lake MI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Whitmore Lake MI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Whitmore Lake MI colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Whitmore Lake MI home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Whitmore Lake MI. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Whitmore Lake MI?

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

Whitmore Lake, Michigan

Whitmore Lake is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community spans the boundary between Green Oak Township in Livingston County and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County. The United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place (CDP) with this name for statistical purposes, which has no legal status as an incorporated municipality. The population was 6,423 at the 2010 census.[3]

The community is located about 9 miles (14 km) north of Ann Arbor and about 9 miles (14 km) south of Brighton. It is situated around the shores of Whitmore Lake, and the CDP also includes the area around the smaller Horseshoe Lake to the south, Lawton Lake to the east and Monahan Lake to the northeast. U.S. Highway 23 forms the western edge of much of the CDP.[4]

The Whitmore Lake post office, with ZIP code 48189, serves a larger area than that defined by the CDP and includes portions of southeast Hamburg Township, northeastern Webster Township, and larger parts of Green Oak and Northfield Townships than are included in the CDP.[5]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Whitmore Lake MI

Whitmore Lake MI vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential 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 included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Whitmore Lake MI.