How to Choose a Veterinary Assistant College near Aurora Illinois
Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinarian school near Aurora IL might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different duties of vet assistants and techs and the training options available.
The Job of a Vet Assistant and Tech
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Aurora IL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Aurora 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 associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or Aurora IL area research facilities also.
Online Vet Training Classes
An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Aurora IL veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech or assistant program may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Training Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Illinois and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the Aurora IL veterinary assistant and tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech or assistant school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Aurora IL vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Aurora IL veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with regional veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local Aurora IL vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary assistant or tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the Aurora IL college has an outstanding reputation within the vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Aurora IL colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet technician classes from work or home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the Aurora IL school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college 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, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the Illinois vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available near Aurora IL before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.
Why Did You Want to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
When getting ready to interview for a veterinary job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask veterinary prospects is "What compelled you to choose veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not just the personal reasons you might have for being a vet assistant, but also what qualities and talents you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to veterinary care, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you must prepare some approaches about how you want to respond to them. Considering there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an outstanding vet tech and the ideal choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.Enroll in the Ideal Vet Assistant Training Program near Aurora IL
Selecting the appropriate vet assistant or tech program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary tech or assistant schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for 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 decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist in Aurora IL.
A Little Bit About Aurora IL
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, a suburb of Chicago, is a city predominantly in Kane County and DuPage County, with portions extending into Kendall and Will counties. It is in the outer region of Chicago metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the second most populous city in the state,[5] and the 114th most populous city in the country.[6] The population was 197,899 at the 2010 census, and was estimated to have increased to 199,963 by July 2013.[7]
Once a mid-sized manufacturing city, Aurora has grown tremendously since the 1960s. Founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits and population have expanded into DuPage, Will, and Kendall counties. Between 2000 and 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Aurora as the 34th fastest growing city in the United States.[8] From 2000 to 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau ranked the city as the 46th fastest growing city with a population of over 100,000.[9]
In 1908, Aurora adopted the nickname "City of Lights", because it was one of the first cities in the United States to implement an all-electric street lighting system in 1881.[10] Aurora's historic downtown is located on the Fox River, and centered on Stolp Island. The city is divided into three regions, The West Side, on the west side of the Fox River, The East Side, between the eastern bank of the Fox River and the Kane/DuPage County line, and the Far East Side/Fox Valley, which is from the County Line to the city's eastern border with Naperville.
More Cities of Interest in Illinois