How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Westmont Illinois
Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinarian program near Westmont IL might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different roles of vet assistants and techs and the training options offered.
The Job of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Westmont IL veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school near Westmont IL. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Westmont IL area research facilities as well.
Veterinary Online Degree Programs
An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Westmont IL veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 fashion, an online vet technician or assistant program may be the perfect option for you.
What to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Training Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary certificate or degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Illinois as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as 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 reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the Westmont IL vet technician and assistant programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech or assistant program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Westmont IL veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Illinois school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Westmont IL veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with local veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most 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 can also help develop relationships in the local Westmont IL veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the Westmont IL program has an outstanding reputation within the vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify 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 in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Westmont IL colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary tech classes from home or work, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the Westmont IL school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt 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. Of course taking classes online 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 Illinois vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered near Westmont IL prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Why Did You Decide to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
When getting ready to interview for a veterinary job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters often ask veterinary applicants is "What compelled you to select veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the private reasons you might have for being a vet tech, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of approaches about how you want to address them. Given that there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding vet tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but write down several ideas and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.Enroll in the Best Vet Technician School near Westmont IL
Selecting the ideal vet technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary assistant or tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Vet techs, assistants and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet technician, assistant or technologist in Westmont IL.
A Little Bit About Westmont IL
Westmont, Illinois
Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Westmont is a community of 5.03 square miles in area. Westmont had a 2000 population of 24,554, a partial special census was conducted 2007 resulting in a population of 26,211, and the census of 2010 put the population at 24,685. It is located approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of the Chicago Loop in the southeastern portion of DuPage County.[5]
The area known as Westmont was inhabited by the Potawatami until the year 1833. After several failed attempts by the U.S. government to persuade the Native Americans to move from the area, in 1833, the Native Americans agreed under coercion to vacate their land for nominal payment.[6]
The development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, authorized by the State of Illinois in the 1820s but delayed in construction until the 1830s, contributed to Westmont's early growth.[6] When the economic Panic of 1837 halted canal construction, many of the workers turned to farming, and agriculture became the major occupation, with produce sold in nearby Chicago. The area around Westmont became one of the most prosperous sections of the state.
More Cities of Interest in Illinois