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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Concord Massachusetts

Concord MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Concord MA might at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final 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 different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Concord MA

cat with cone after surgery in Concord MA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Concord MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So 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 career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Concord

student attending online vet tech school in Concord MA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Concord MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Concord MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Concord MA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Concord MA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Concord MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Concord MA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Concord MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Concord MA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly 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 in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Concord MA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Concord MA home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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. In addition, if you do opt to attend 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. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Concord MA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Concord MA?

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

Concord, Massachusetts

Concord (/ˈkɒŋkərd/) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. At the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668.[1] The United States Census Bureau considers Concord part of Greater Boston. The town center is located near where the confluence of the Sudbury and Assabet rivers forms the Concord River.

The area that became the town of Concord was originally known as Musketaquid, an Algonquian word for "grassy plain." Concord was established in 1635 by a handful of British settlers; by 1775, the population had grown to 1,400.[2] As dissension between colonists in North America and the British crown intensified, 700 troops were sent to confiscate militia ordnance stored at Concord on April 19, 1775.[3][4] The ensuing conflict, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, was the final inciting incident (the shot heard round the world) that triggered the American Revolutionary War.

A rich literary community developed in Concord during the mid-nineteenth century, centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson's circle included Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau. Major works written in Concord during this period include Alcott's novel Little Women, Emerson's essay Self-Reliance, and Thoreau's Walden and Civil Disobedience. In this era, the now-ubiquitous Concord grape was developed in Concord by Ephraim Wales Bull.

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Concord MA

Concord MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Concord MA.