Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hightstown NJ

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Hightstown New Jersey

Hightstown NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Hightstown NJ might initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Hightstown NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Hightstown NJ Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Hightstown NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hightstown NJ laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Hightstown

student attending online vet tech school in Hightstown NJ An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Hightstown NJ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Hightstown NJ Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Hightstown NJ 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 college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Hightstown NJ area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Hightstown NJ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references 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 New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Hightstown NJ veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Hightstown NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Hightstown NJ veterinary 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 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 one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hightstown NJ schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Hightstown NJ home, you need to confirm that the driving 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 school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Hightstown NJ. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hightstown NJ?

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

Hightstown, New Jersey

Hightstown is a borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 5,494,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 278 (+5.3%) from the 5,216 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 90 (+1.8%) from the 5,126 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township. The borough became fully independent c. 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915 and 1927.[21] It was named for John and Mary Hight, who established a tavern in the area in the 1750s.[22][23][24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.242 square miles (3.218 km2), including 1.211 square miles (3.137 km2) of land and 0.031 square miles (0.081 km2) of water (2.52%).[1][2]

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Hightstown NJ

Hightstown NJ vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Hightstown NJ.