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How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Dover Massachusetts

Dover MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Dover MA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Dover MA

cat with cone after surgery in Dover MA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Dover MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances 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 trade 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 involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Dover

student attending online vet tech school in Dover MA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of 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 carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Dover MA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Dover MA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Dover MA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Dover MA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Dover MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Dover MA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Dover MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Dover MA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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 most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Dover MA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Dover MA home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Dover MA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dover MA?

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

Dover, Massachusetts

Located about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of downtown Boston, Dover is a residential town nestled on the south banks of the Charles River. Almost all of the residential zoning requires 1-acre (4,000 m2) or larger. As recently as the early 1960s, 75% of its annual town budget was allocated to snow removal, as only a mile and a half of the town's roads are state highway.

The first recorded settlement of Dover was in 1640. It was later established as the Springfield Parish of Dedham in 1748, and incorporated as District Dedham in 1784. Dover was officially incorporated as a town in 1836.

The Benjamin Caryl House at 107 Dedham St. dates from about 1777 and was home to Dover's first minister, Benjamin Caryl, his son George, who was the town's first doctor, and their descendants until 1897. It has been owned by the town and operated by the Historical Society since 1920. The house retains its architectural integrity and has been carefully restored to reflect life in the 1790s when the first two Caryl families lived and worked there together.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Dover MA

Dover MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick 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 narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dover MA.