How to Find the Right Vet Assistant College near Niles Illinois
Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet program near Niles IL could initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training alternatives available.
The Role of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Niles IL veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school near Niles IL. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 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 general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Niles IL area research facilities also.
Veterinarian Online Training Classes
An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Niles IL veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select 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 mode, an online veterinary technician or assistant program may be the perfect choice for you.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Tech Programs
By now you should have determined which veterinary certificate or degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in Illinois as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the Niles IL veterinary assistant and tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet assistant or tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Niles IL veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Niles IL vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with area veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local Niles IL veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary assistant or technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the Niles IL program has an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Niles IL colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary tech classes from home or work, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the Niles IL college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the Illinois veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered near Niles IL before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.
Why Did You Want to Be a Vet Technician?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's important to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers often ask veterinary candidates is "What drove you to pick veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the private reasons you might have for becoming a veterinary technician, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to veterinary care, as well as a significant number of routine interview questions, so you must ready several approaches about how you want to address them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the talents you have that make you an outstanding vet tech and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down a few concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to develop your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.Select the Best Veterinary Technician College near Niles IL
Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary assistant or tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary assistant or tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Vet assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, tech or technologist in Niles IL.
A Little Bit About Niles IL
Leaning Tower of Niles
The Leaning Tower of Niles is a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Located in Niles, Illinois, it was completed in 1934 by industrialist Robert Ilg as part of a recreation park for employees of the Ilg Hot Air Electric Ventilating Company of Chicago.[1][2] It is situated at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue.[3]
Some speculate that part of the motivation to construct the tower was to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A more likely explanation is its original functional purpose, to store water for outdoor recreational swimming pools.[2][4] In 1960, the descendants of Robert Ilg donated part of the park for the construction of the Leaning Tower YMCA.[2] Other amenities of the employees' recreational park included a wooden toboggan run, which was in decay but still visible in the 1960s.
On November 17, 2015, the Niles Village Board approved a proposal for the village to purchase the Leaning Tower from the YMCA for $10. The Board also approved a contract to spend $550,000 to repair and renovate the building.[6]
More Cities of Interest in Illinois