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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Sebago Maine

Sebago ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Sebago ME may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Sebago ME

cat with cone after surgery in Sebago ME Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Sebago ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational 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 associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with 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 vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Sebago ME laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Sebago

student attending online vet tech school in Sebago ME An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via 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 many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Sebago ME veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Sebago ME Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Sebago ME vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Sebago ME area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Sebago ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Sebago ME veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Sebago ME veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Sebago ME veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Sebago ME colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Sebago ME home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sebago ME. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Sebago ME?

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

Sebago Lake

Sebago Lake is the deepest and second largest lake in the U.S. state of Maine. The lake is 316 feet (96 m) deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of 101 feet (31 m), covers about 45 square miles (117 km2) in surface area, has a length of 12 miles (19 km) and a shoreline length of 105 miles (169 km).[2] The surface is around 270 feet (82 m) above sea level, so the deep bottom is below the present sea level.[3] It is in Cumberland County, Maine, and bordered by the towns of Casco, Naples, Raymond, Sebago, Standish and Windham. The seasonally occupied town of Frye Island is on an island in the lake.[4]

The lake is connected to Brandy Pond by the Songo River and eventually to Long Lake in Naples. The name comes from a local Native American tribe. The lake is drained primarily by the Presumpscot River. The lake and rivers were an early transportation corridor from the coast to the interior, and encouraged the first incorporated European settlement of interior Maine in 1762.[5] Sebago Lake was linked to Portland harbor by the Cumberland and Oxford Canal in 1832. The outlet to the Presumpscot River was controlled for the canal by the Eel Weir Dam and the Head Dam, owned and operated by the Oriental Powder Company after the canal was replaced by a railroad[6] and by the S. D. Warren Paper Mill after 1878.[2][7]

The lake was a comparatively safe place for training military pilots from NAS Brunswick about flying over water; but several navy planes were lost over the lake during World War II. A Grumman TBF Avenger from the Lewiston Naval Auxiliary Air Facility ditched and sank near Raymond on 16 August 1943. Two low-flying British Vought Corsairs from Brunswick were lost after a mid-air collision over the lake near Raymond on 16 May 1944; and a third Corsair flew into the lake on July 16.[8] In December 2014 the first Sebago Lake beach landing in the history of the world was made by a yellow Supercub.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician School near Sebago ME

Sebago ME vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sebago ME.