Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Andover NH

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near East Andover New Hampshire

East Andover NH vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near East Andover NH could initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in East Andover NH

cat with cone after surgery in East Andover NH Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the East Andover NH veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function 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 instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can 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 East Andover NH labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in East Andover

student attending online vet tech school in East Andover NH An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local East Andover NH veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses 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 veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask East Andover NH Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask East Andover NH vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the East Andover NH area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune 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 important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of East Andover NH area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Hampshire school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some East Andover NH veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs 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 environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with East Andover NH veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the East Andover NH vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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 one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the East Andover NH programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your East Andover NH home, you have 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near East Andover NH. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Andover NH?

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

Andover, New Hampshire

Andover is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,371 at the 2010 census.[1] Andover includes the villages of Cilleyville, Potter Place, East Andover, and West Andover, in addition to the town center. The town is home to Ragged Mountain State Forest and Proctor Academy, a private coeducational preparatory school.

Settled in 1761, the town was originally named "Emerisstown".[2] In 1746 it was granted to Edward Brown and others as "New Breton"[3] or "New Britton",[4] having been granted primarily to soldiers who had taken part in the 1745 capture of Cape Breton during hostilities with the French in Canada. Among those soldiers was their regimental surgeon, Dr. Anthony Emery, a friend of Samuel Phillips, Jr., who in 1778 founded the Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. "New Breton" would be incorporated as "Andover" in 1779, the year Phillips Andover was completed.

In 1822, an academy was established in Andover, although it would close in 1828. Another school was founded in 1848 that would become Proctor Academy, the prestigious institution around which the town's economy is based. Andover is noted for its antique shops, Greek Revival architecture, and two covered bridges. Potter Place Railroad Station, built in 1874 by the Northern Railroad,[5] is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and today serves as a museum for the Andover Historical Society.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician School near East Andover NH

East Andover NH vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in East Andover NH.