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How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Acton Massachusetts

Acton MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Acton MA could at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Acton MA

cat with cone after surgery in Acton MA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both 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 Acton MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases 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 community college or trade 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 involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced 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 certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Acton MA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Acton

student attending online vet tech school in Acton MA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Acton MA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Acton MA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Acton MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Acton MA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Acton MA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Acton MA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Acton MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed 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 could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Acton MA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Acton MA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Acton MA home, you need to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in 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, attending classes online may 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 determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Acton MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Acton MA?

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

Acton, Massachusetts

Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, approximately twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles (16 km) southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,929 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Westford and Littleton to the north, Concord and Carlisle to the east, Stow, Maynard, and Sudbury to the south and Boxborough to the west. Acton became an incorporated town in 1735. The town employs the Open Town Meeting form of government with a Town Manager and an elected, five-member Board of Selectmen. Acton was named the 11th Best Place To Live among small towns in the country by Money Magazine in 2015, and the 16th best in 2009 and in 2011.[1] The local high school, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2009.[2] In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked Acton-Boxborough #3 among open enrollment high schools and #7 overall for STEM education in the United States.[6]

Acton is located at 42°29′N 71°27′W / 42.483°N 71.450°W / 42.483; -71.450. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.3 square miles (53 km2), of which 20.0 square miles (52 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 1.53 percent, is water. Almost all of Acton is forested, except for where it has been cleared for residential or agricultural use. Some forested areas have been put aside for special use by corporations.

The current geography of Acton was created when the last wave of glaciers retreated approximately ten thousand years ago. Acton has nine drumlins — hills which are composed of glacial till. In addition, Wills Hole and Grassy Pond are kettle ponds which were formed in depressions in the till formed by large blocks of ice.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Acton MA

Acton MA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician 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 usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Acton MA.