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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Lyme New Hampshire

Lyme NH vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lyme NH may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Lyme NH

cat with cone after surgery in Lyme NH Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main 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 guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Lyme NH veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference 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 potential management positions. They are additionally mandated 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. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lyme NH labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Lyme

student attending online vet tech school in Lyme NH An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lyme NH veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study materials, may be cheaper 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 recognized accrediting organization. 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Lyme NH Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Lyme NH vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lyme NH area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Lyme NH area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian 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 tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Hampshire school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Lyme NH vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Lyme NH veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Lyme NH veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lyme NH colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lyme NH home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending 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 find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lyme NH. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lyme NH?

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

Lyme disease

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is an infectious disease caused by a bacteria named Borrelia spread by ticks.[2] The most common sign of infection is an expanding area of redness on the skin, known as erythema migrans, that appears at the site of the tick bite about a week after it occurred.[1] The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful.[1] Approximately 70–80% of infected people develop a rash.[1] Other early symptoms may include fever, headache and tiredness.[1] If untreated, symptoms may include loss of the ability to move one or both sides of the face, joint pains, severe headaches with neck stiffness, or heart palpitations, among others.[1] Months to years later, repeated episodes of joint pain and swelling may occur.[1] Occasionally, people develop shooting pains or tingling in their arms and legs.[1] Despite appropriate treatment, about 10 to 20% of people develop joint pains, memory problems, and tiredness for at least six months.[1][5]

Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the genus Ixodes.[6] In the United States, ticks of concern are usually of the Ixodes scapularis type, and must be attached for at least 36 hours before the bacteria can spread.[7][8] In Europe ticks of the Ixodes ricinus type may spread the bacteria more quickly.[8][9] In North America, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are the cause.[2][10] In Europe and Asia, the bacteria Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are also causes of the disease.[2] The disease does not appear to be transmissible between people, by other animals, or through food.[7] Diagnosis is based upon a combination of symptoms, history of tick exposure, and possibly testing for specific antibodies in the blood.[3][11] Blood tests are often negative in the early stages of the disease.[2] Testing of individual ticks is not typically useful.[12]

Prevention includes efforts to prevent tick bites such as by wearing clothing to cover the arms and legs, and using DEET-based insect repellents.[2] Using pesticides to reduce tick numbers may also be effective.[2] Ticks can be removed using tweezers.[13] If the removed tick was full of blood, a single dose of doxycycline may be used to prevent development of infection, but is not generally recommended since development of infection is rare.[2] If an infection develops, a number of antibiotics are effective, including doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime.[2] Standard treatment usually lasts for two or three weeks.[2] Some people develop a fever and muscle and joint pains from treatment which may last for one or two days.[2] In those who develop persistent symptoms, long-term antibiotic therapy has not been found to be useful.[2][14]

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Lyme NH

Lyme NH vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating 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 accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lyme NH.