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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Stow Massachusetts

Stow MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Stow MA might initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Stow MA

cat with cone after surgery in Stow MA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Stow MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can 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 Stow MA labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Stow

student attending online vet tech school in Stow MA An alternative that may make sense 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 made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Stow MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Stow MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Stow MA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Stow MA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of 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 verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Stow MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Stow MA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Stow MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Stow MA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Stow MA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Stow MA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Stow MA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Stow MA?

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

Stow, Massachusetts

Stow is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is located 21 miles west of Boston, in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts. The population was 6,590 at the 2010 census. Stow was officially incorporated in 1683 with an area of approximately 40 square miles. Over centuries it gave up land as newer, smaller towns were created, ceding land to Harvard (1732), Shirley (1765), Boxborough (1783), Hudson (1866) and Maynard (1871). Stow now has an area of 18.1 square miles (47 km2). With the exception of factories at Assabet Village and Rock Bottom (later Maynard and Gleasondale), Stow was primarily sparsely settled farm and orchard land until the 1950s.

Stow was officially incorporated in 1683.[1] The earliest Colonial settlers, c. 1660, were Matthew Boon and John Kettell, who settled the land of Tantamous (Jethro), a Native American, whose land was called "Pompocitticut." Boon settled by a pond (later bearing his name: Lake Boon) with a vast tract of land surrounding him. It is said that he traded all this for a single jackknife. A monument bearing his name is located on the plot of land where he formerly resided. John Kettell took up residence in a portion of land in the southwestern corner of Stow. Both families were affected by King Philip's War, an attempt by Native Americans to drive out colonists. Boon and Kettell were killed. Their families had been moved to other locations, and survived. The area that was to become Stow was not resettled by colonists for several years.[2][3]

The original development of Stow - a mile east of the current center, became known as Lower Village after a meeting hall, and later, churches, were built to the west. The old cemetery on Route 117/62 is officially Lower Village Cemetery.[2] On October 28, 1774, Henry Gardner, a Stow resident, was elected Receiver-General of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, the government of Massachusetts during the American Revolution. After the war, Gardner served as State Treasurer. Gardner's grandson, also Henry Gardner, was the governor of Massachusetts from 1855 to 1857.[4]

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician College near Stow MA

Stow MA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Stow MA.