Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools North Andover MA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near North Andover Massachusetts

North Andover MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near North Andover MA could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in North Andover MA

cat with cone after surgery in North Andover MA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the North Andover MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in North Andover MA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in North Andover

student attending online vet tech school in North Andover MA An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local North Andover MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask North Andover MA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask North Andover MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the North Andover MA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune 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 significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of North Andover MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some North Andover MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with North Andover MA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the North Andover MA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the North Andover MA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your North Andover MA home, you have to confirm that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near North Andover MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near North Andover MA?

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

North Andover, Massachusetts

North Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The lands south of the Merrimack River around Lake Cochichewick and the Shawsheen River were set aside by the Massachusetts General Court in 1634 for the purpose of creating an inland plantation. The Cochichewick Plantation, as it was called, was purchased on May 6, 1646 when Reverend John Woodbridge, who had settled the land for the English, paid Pennacook chief Cutshmache six pounds and a coat for the lands.[3] The plantation was then incorporated as Andover, most likely in honor of the hometown of many early residents, Andover, Hampshire, England. The town was centered in what is now North Andover, but the spread of settlement south and west of the old town center created much conflict in the early years about the location of the parish church. In 1709, the matter was brought to the General Court, which set aside two parish churches, north and south.[4] The parishes grew apart as the years went on and on April 7, 1855, the North parish separated from the south and was incorporated as North Andover.

There are several first period (pre-1720) houses still standing in town. The oldest house is probably the Bridges House, relocated from Marbleridge Road to Court Street in 2001; the original portion of this house probably dates to about 1690. Other first period houses include the Stevens House on Great Pond Road; the Faulkner House on Appleton Street; the Abiel Stevens House on Salem Street; the Parson Barnard House, which is a museum; a house on Andover Street near the intersection with Chickering Road; and the Carlton-Frie-Tucker House[5] at 140 Mill Road. No house in North Andover has been scientifically dated by dendrochronology, so dates are based solely on stylistic elements, original deeds, and tradition.

The North Parish Church on the North Andover Green is a historic church building built in 1836.[6] It was the 5th meetinghouse of the Puritan church congregation founded in 1645 in North Andover. In about 1836 the congregation chose to become a Unitarian church and commissioned this Gothic building.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near North Andover MA

North Andover MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in 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 choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in North Andover MA.