Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Brunswick ME - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Brunswick Maine

Brunswick ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Brunswick ME may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant 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 should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Brunswick ME

cat with cone after surgery in Brunswick ME One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Brunswick ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. 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, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Brunswick ME laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Brunswick

student attending online vet tech school in Brunswick ME An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Brunswick ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm 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 included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Brunswick ME Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Brunswick ME vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Brunswick ME area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Brunswick ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Brunswick ME veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Brunswick ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed 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 mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Brunswick ME veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Brunswick ME colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Brunswick ME home, you must make certain 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 college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Brunswick ME. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Brunswick ME?

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

Brunswick, Maine

Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, The Theater Project, and the Maine State Music Theatre. It is also home to Mid Coast Hospital, one of Maine's newest full-service hospitals. It was formerly home to the U.S. Naval Air Station Brunswick, which was permanently closed on May 31, 2011.

Settled in 1628 by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen, the area was called by its Indian name, Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]". In 1639, Purchase placed his settlement under protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During King Philip's War in 1676, Pejepscot was burned and abandoned, although a garrison called Fort Andros was built on the ruins during King William's War. During the war, in Major Benjamin Church's second expedition a year later, he arrived on 11 September 1690 with 300 men at Casco Bay. He went up the Androscoggin River to the English Fort Pejepscot (present day Brunswick, Maine).[4] From there he went 40 miles up-river and attacked a native village. Three or four native men were shot in retreat; when Church discovered 5 English captives in the wigwams, six or seven prisoners were butchered as an example;[5] and nine prisoners were taken. A few days later, in retaliation, the natives attacked Church at Cape Elizabeth on Purpooduc Point, killing 7 of his men and wounding 24 others.[6] On September 26, Church returned to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth bought the land, thereafter called the Pejepscot Purchase. The Massachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, naming it Brunswick in honor of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I. A stone fort called Fort George was built in 1715 near the falls. But during Dummer's War on July 13, 1722, Abenaki warriors from Norridgewock burned the village. Consequently, Governor Samuel Shute declared war on the Abenakis. In 1724, 208 English troops left Fort Richmond and sacked Norridgewock during Dummer's War. Brunswick was rebuilt again in 1727, and in 1739 incorporated as a town. It became a prosperous seaport, where Bowdoin College was chartered in 1794.[7]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech Program near Brunswick ME

Brunswick ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Brunswick ME.