Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Morris Plains NJ

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Morris Plains New Jersey

Morris Plains NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Morris Plains NJ might at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby 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 by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Morris Plains NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Morris Plains NJ Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Morris Plains NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction 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 possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Morris Plains NJ labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Morris Plains

student attending online vet tech school in Morris Plains NJ An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Morris Plains NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. 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 fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Morris Plains NJ Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Morris Plains NJ vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Morris Plains NJ area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Morris Plains NJ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Morris Plains NJ vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Morris Plains NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Morris Plains NJ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Morris Plains NJ programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding 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 talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Morris Plains NJ home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Morris Plains NJ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Morris Plains NJ?

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

Morris Plains, New Jersey

Morris Plains is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 5,532,[7][8][9] reflecting an increase of 296 (+5.7%) from the 5,236 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 17 (+0.3%) from the 5,219 counted in the 1990 Census.[18]

Morris Plains was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1926, from portions of Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 15, 1926.[19][20] The borough's name comes from Lewis Morris, colonial governor of New Jersey.[21][22]

Morris Plains serves as a bedroom community, with many residents traveling to work in New York City. The Morristown Line of NJ Transit provides commuters with direct access to New York Penn Station and to Hoboken Terminal.

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Morris Plains NJ

Morris Plains NJ vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Morris Plains NJ.