Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Livermore Falls ME

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Livermore Falls Maine

Livermore Falls ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Livermore Falls ME might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Livermore Falls ME

cat with cone after surgery in Livermore Falls ME Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Livermore Falls ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Livermore Falls ME laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Livermore Falls

student attending online vet tech school in Livermore Falls ME An option that might 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 made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Livermore Falls ME veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Livermore Falls ME Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Livermore Falls ME vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Livermore Falls ME area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Livermore Falls ME area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at 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 agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Livermore Falls ME veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Livermore Falls ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Livermore Falls ME veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Livermore Falls ME programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Livermore Falls ME home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Livermore Falls ME. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Livermore Falls ME?

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

Livermore Falls, Maine

Livermore Falls is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,187 at the 2010 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area. High school students in Livermore Falls attend Spruce Mountain High School.

The area was once part of the Abenaki Indian territory called Rockemeka, meaning "great corn place." It would be granted by the General Court of Massachusetts in 1871 as Port Royal, awarded to heirs of veterans who served in the campaign against Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.[4] It was settled in 1886, then incorporated in 1895 as Livermore after Deacon Elijah Livermore, one of the first English settlers. The county line, determined by the Androscoggin River, divided the town. West of the river was Oxford County, and east was Kennebec County. Consequently, East Livermore (which encompassed a quarter of the original Port Royal grant) was set off and incorporated on March 1, 1844. It became part of Androscoggin County on March 31, 1854. In 1930, East Livermore was renamed Livermore Falls.[5]

In the early 19th century, the region was predominantly farmland, with apple orchards and dairies supplying markets at Boston and Portland. It was noted for fine cattle. As the century progressed, gristmills, sawmills, logging and lumber became important industries, operated by water power from falls that drop 14 feet. With the arrival of the Androscoggin Railroad in 1852, Livermore Falls developed as a small mill town. Shoe factories and paper mills were established, including the Umbagog Pulp Company started by Hugh J. Chisholm. In 1897, the Third Bridge was built across the Androscoggin. It measured 800 feet in length, at that time the longest single-span bridge in New England.[6]

Choose the Right Vet Tech Program near Livermore Falls ME

Livermore Falls ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Livermore Falls ME.