How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Lakeville Massachusetts

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Lakeville MA may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Lakeville MA 

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Lakeville MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Lakeville

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lakeville MA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm 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 dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Lakeville MA Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lakeville MA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Lakeville MA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Lakeville MA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Lakeville MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Lakeville MA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lakeville MA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously talked about 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 Lakeville MA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, 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 particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary 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 go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lakeville MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lakeville MA?

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

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Lakeville MA

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lakeville MA.

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