Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools North Dartmouth MA

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near North Dartmouth Massachusetts

North Dartmouth MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near North Dartmouth MA might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in North Dartmouth MA

cat with cone after surgery in North Dartmouth MA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary 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 guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the North Dartmouth MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal 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 vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to 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 veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
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 generally requires four years to complete. Therefore 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 options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in North Dartmouth

student attending online vet tech school in North Dartmouth MA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various 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 typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local North Dartmouth MA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. 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 classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask North Dartmouth MA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask North Dartmouth MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the North Dartmouth MA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many North Dartmouth MA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some North Dartmouth MA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with North Dartmouth MA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the North Dartmouth MA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the North Dartmouth MA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your North Dartmouth MA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near North Dartmouth MA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near North Dartmouth MA?

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

Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Dartmouth is a coastal town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, and was the first area of Southeastern Massachusetts settled. Dartmouth itself is part of the Farm Coast New England comprising a chain of historic coastal villages, vineyards and farms. It celebrated its 350th birthday June 8, 2014. It is also part of the Massachusetts South Coast. The local daily newspaper is The Standard-Times.

The northern part of Dartmouth has the town's large commercial districts. Although it does not abut Buzzard's Bay, there are several waterways including Lake Noquochoke, Cornell Pond, Shingle Island River and Paskamansett River. There are several working farms in town and vineyard. All vineyards in the town are part of the Coastal Wine Tour. The town also has a thriving agricultural heritage and many of the working farms are protected. The town's food staple is french toast casserole.

The southern part of Dartmouth borders Buzzards Bay where a lively fishing and boating community thrives; off its coast, the Elizabeth Islands and Cuttyhunk can be seen. The New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram hosts a bi-annual Regatta. With unique historic villages and selection of coastal real estate, it has for many generations been a summering community. Notable affluent sections within South Dartmouth are Nonquitt, Round Hill, Barney's Joy, and Mishaum Point. Still it has its fair share of year-round residents lending to thriving seasonal activities all year.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near North Dartmouth MA

North Dartmouth MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in North Dartmouth MA.