How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Limestone Maine
Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Limestone ME may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Limestone ME
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Limestone ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites 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 graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually 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 vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the main distinction 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 registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Limestone ME labs or research facilities as well.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Limestone
An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Limestone ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select 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 program may be the right option for you.
What to Ask Limestone ME Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Limestone ME area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need 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 programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Limestone ME area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Limestone ME veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Limestone ME veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician 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 reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm 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 Limestone ME veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Limestone ME programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Limestone ME home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Limestone ME. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Limestone ME?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Limestone Maine area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Limestone, Maine
The town is best known for being the home of the Loring Commerce Centre (formerly Loring Air Force Base; also lying on its former territory is the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge) and Maine School of Science and Math (MSSM) which in 2017 was ranked the #1 High School in Maine, #10 STEM School in the USA and #19 Best School in the USA.
General Mark Trafton is known as one of the founders of the town of Limestone. Trafton was born July 4, 1785, in York County, Maine. He was educated in public schools and became a leading citizen in Bangor, prominent in civil and military affairs. When a young man, he was commissioned captain of cavalry and served in the War of 1812. He was afterward brigadier-general of the state militia. He was a land agent for the eastern and northern sections of Maine before the office was opened in Bangor.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.79 square miles (105.65 km2), of which 40.49 square miles (104.87 km2) is land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km2) is water.[2]
Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Limestone ME
Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 choice. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Limestone ME.
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