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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Bedford Massachusetts

Bedford MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Bedford MA might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Bedford MA

cat with cone after surgery in Bedford MA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Bedford MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Bedford MA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Bedford

student attending online vet tech school in Bedford MA An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bedford MA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Bedford MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Bedford MA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Bedford MA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Bedford MA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Bedford MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Bedford MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Bedford MA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Bedford MA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Bedford MA home, you have 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bedford MA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bedford MA?

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

New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072,[3] making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts. New Bedford is nicknamed "The Whaling City" because during the 19th century, the city was one of the most important whaling ports in the world, along with Nantucket, Massachusetts and New London, Connecticut.[4] The city, along with Fall River and Taunton, make up the three largest cities in the South Coast region of Massachusetts.

Before the 17th century, the Wampanoag, who had settlements throughout southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, were the only inhabitants of the lands along the Acushnet River. Their population is believed to have been about 12,000. While exploring New England, Bartholomew Gosnold landed on Cuttyhunk Island on May 15, 1602. From there, he explored Cape Cod and the neighboring areas, including the site of present-day New Bedford. However, rather than settle the area, he returned to England at the request of his crew.

Europeans first settled New Bedford in 1652. English Plymouth Colony settlers purchased the land from chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe. Whether the transfer of the land was legitimately done has been the subject of intense controversy. Like other native tribes, the Wampanoags did not share the settlers' concepts of private property. The tribe may have believed they were granting usage rights to the land, not giving it up permanently.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Bedford MA

Bedford MA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges 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 decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bedford MA.