Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Phippsburg ME

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Phippsburg Maine

Phippsburg ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Phippsburg ME might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Phippsburg ME

cat with cone after surgery in Phippsburg ME Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Phippsburg ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main distinction 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Phippsburg ME labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Phippsburg

student attending online vet tech school in Phippsburg ME An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Phippsburg ME veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phippsburg ME Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Phippsburg ME vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Phippsburg ME area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in 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 undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Phippsburg ME area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Phippsburg ME veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through 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 most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Phippsburg ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may 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 considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Phippsburg ME vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Phippsburg ME programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Phippsburg ME home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at 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 Phippsburg ME. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Phippsburg ME?

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

Phippsburg, Maine

Phippsburg is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States, on the west side of the mouth of the Kennebec River. The population was 2,216 at the 2010 census. It is within the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine, metropolitan statistical area. A tourist destination, Phippsburg is home to Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Fort Popham State Historic Site; it is also home to Fort Baldwin which overlooks Fort Popham, and Popham Beach State Park, as well as Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge. The town includes part of Winnegance.

Site of the Popham Colony, Phippsburg was — between 1607 and 1608 — the first known English settlement attempt in New England. During its brief existence, colonists built Virginia of Sagadahoc, the first ship in Maine's long history of shipbuilding.[4]

The next British settlement at the mouth of the Kennebec River began in 1653; Thomas Atkins, a fisherman, purchased from the sachem Mowhotiwormet, commonly called Chief Robinhood, the southern end of Phippsburg (with the exception of Popham). Atkins Bay bears his name. The population gradually increased until King Philip's War, when Indians in August 1676 attacked the eastern side of the Kennebec River, massacring and scalping the colonists, or else carrying them into captivity. Dwellings were burned and stocks of cattle killed. The entire area was abandoned.[5]

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Phippsburg ME

Phippsburg ME vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Phippsburg ME.