Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Southfield MA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Southfield Massachusetts

Southfield MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Southfield MA could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Southfield MA

cat with cone after surgery in Southfield MA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Southfield MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary 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 involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Southfield

student attending online vet tech school in Southfield MA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study 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 part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Southfield MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Southfield MA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Southfield MA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Southfield MA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Southfield MA area veterinarian clinics 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 veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Southfield MA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Southfield MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Southfield MA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Southfield MA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Southfield MA home, you must confirm that the driving 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 school is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option 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 find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating 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 at night near Southfield MA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Southfield MA?

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

Southfield School (Massachusetts)

Southfield School was an independent school for girls in Brookline, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1992, its campus is also home to its brother school, Dexter, an independent school for boys founded in 1926. In 2013 the school merged with Dexter to form Dexter Southfield.

The 36-acre campus on the Boston-Brookline border provided a setting and facilities which serve the school community well. Of particular note is the Clay Center for Science and Technology which provides students with extraordinary classroom opportunities as well as a world-class astronomical observatory.

Southfield's athletic programs featured a combination of intramural and interscholastic offerings. In Kindergarten through Grade 2 physical education is a daily activity. Intramural competition was introduced in Grade 3 through Grade 6 during which students competed in many different sports with the goal of instilling a spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork. Beginning in Grade 7, athletes choose from a variety of interscholastic sports. Southfield teams competed against many schools throughout the New England area. The school used five fields on campus, including two multi-purpose turf fields and a dedicated baseball diamond. Two hockey rinks, the Lincoln Pool, and the Dalrymple Gymnasium provided indoor athletic facilities. The rowing program had a boathouse on the Charles River in Dedham, ten minutes from campus. The school had won consecutive New England Championships in basketball and soccer.

Select the Best Vet Tech Program near Southfield MA

Southfield MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Southfield MA.