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How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Methuen Massachusetts

Methuen MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Methuen MA might at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Methuen MA

cat with cone after surgery in Methuen MA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Methuen MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Methuen MA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Methuen

student attending online vet tech school in Methuen MA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Methuen MA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical 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 program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Methuen MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Methuen MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Methuen MA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Methuen MA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Methuen MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Methuen MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Methuen MA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Methuen MA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Methuen MA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in 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 higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Methuen MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Methuen MA?

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

Methuen, Massachusetts

Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1724 Stephen Barker and others in the western part of that town petitioned the General Court to grant them permission to form a new town above Hawke's Meadow Brook. Although opposed by their fellow townsmen, the petition was approved the following year (December 8, 1725), and the General Court gave them an act of incorporation under the name of Methuen. The town was named for Sir Paul Methuen, a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer. The first town meeting was held March 9, 1726, in the home of a resident. Land was set aside for a meetinghouse, which was erected later in 1726 on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.[4]

The residents in the northern part of the new town of Methuen soon petitioned to have their own meetinghouse (a combination of town hall and puritan church), and in 1736 the north parish was set off. Land for a meetinghouse was donated by descendants of the original proprietors of Haverhill, and in 1738 the second Methuen meetinghouse was raised. The structure survives to this day, as the Salem N.H. Historical Society building. In 1741, with the fixing of the Northern boundary of Massachusetts, most of this new north parish was removed from Methuen and placed in New Hampshire. It was incorporated as Salem, New Hampshire in 1750.[4]

Industrial growth in the 1800s influenced Methuen's development. Construction of the Methuen Cotton Mills at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s and the increased manufacture of hats and shoes in small factories along the Spicket spurred the centralization of Methuen's economic, residential and cultural activities within the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy and prominent families—the Nevins, the Tenneys and the Searles—played a significant role in Methuen's history and development. These families were instrumental in the founding of many of Methuen's landmarks, including the Nevins Memorial Library, the Searles building, Tenney Gatehouse, Nevins Home, Spicket Falls, and the Civil War monument between Pleasant and Charles streets.[5]

Choose the Best Vet Tech School near Methuen MA

Methuen MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Methuen MA.