How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Palatine Illinois
Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet school near Palatine IL could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and assistants and the training alternatives offered.
The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Assistant and Technician
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Palatine IL veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Palatine IL. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore 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 job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Palatine IL area research facilities also.
Online Vet Training Programs
An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Palatine IL veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary tech or assistant program may be the perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technologist Training Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in Illinois and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the Palatine IL vet assistant and technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet technician or assistant college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Palatine IL veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Palatine IL veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local Palatine IL vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary assistant or tech program may 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 considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the Palatine IL school has an exceptional reputation within the vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palatine IL programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary assistant classes from home or work, you have to make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the Palatine IL college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the Illinois vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available near Palatine IL prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Why Did You Decide to Be a Vet Tech?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's helpful to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that interviewers typically ask veterinary applicants is "What compelled you to select veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming a vet assistant, but also what qualities and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to veterinary care, as well as a significant number of routine interview questions, so you should prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to answer them. Since there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an outstanding vet tech and the best choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down a few ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.Choose the Best Vet Technologist Program near Palatine IL
Picking the right vet technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary assistant or tech schools need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online 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 ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, tech or technologist in Palatine IL.
A Little Bit About Palatine IL
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill (/ˈpælətaɪn/; Latin: Collis Palatium or Mons Palatinus; Italian: Palatino [palaˈtiːno]) is the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city. It stands 40 metres[1] above the Roman Forum, looking down upon it on one side, and upon the Circus Maximus on the other. From the time of Augustus Imperial palaces were built here.
The hill is the etymological origin of the word palace and its cognates in other languages (Italian: palazzo, French: palais, German: Palast, Czech: palác, etc.).[a]
The term palace, from Old French palais or paleis, stems ultimately from the proper name of Palatine Hill.[2]
More Cities of Interest in Illinois