Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hillsborough NH

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Hillsborough New Hampshire

Hillsborough NH vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Hillsborough NH may at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Hillsborough NH

cat with cone after surgery in Hillsborough NH Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share 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 Hillsborough NH veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hillsborough NH labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Hillsborough

student attending online vet tech school in Hillsborough NH An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several 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 completed as an internship or work study program at a local Hillsborough NH veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Hillsborough NH Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Hillsborough NH vet tech schools At this point you should have determined 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 veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Hillsborough NH area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Hillsborough NH area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Hampshire school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Hillsborough NH veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Hillsborough NH veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges 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 dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Hillsborough NH veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hillsborough NH programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning 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? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hillsborough NH home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Hillsborough NH. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hillsborough NH?

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

Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census.[1] The town is home to Fox State Forest and part of Low State Forest.

The main village of the town, where 1,976 people resided at the 2010 census,[2] is defined as the Hillsborough census-designated place (CDP), and encompasses the main urban area of the town, located along the Contoocook River at the junction of New Hampshire Route 149 with Henniker Street and Main Street. The town also includes the villages of Hillsborough Center, Hillsborough Upper Village, Hillsborough Lower Village, and Emerald Lake Village.

The town was first granted in 1735 by colonial governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire Jonathan Belcher as "Number Seven", one in a line of nine Massachusetts towns set up as defense barriers against Indian attacks. The towns were renamed after the border between the two provinces was fixed in 1739, placing the towns in New Hampshire. Settled in 1741, the town was granted in 1748 by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Hillsborough", named for Sir Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough.[citation needed] It would be incorporated in 1772 by Governor John Wentworth.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Hillsborough NH

Hillsborough NH vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Hillsborough NH.