Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Bedford MA

How to Select a Vet Tech School near New Bedford Massachusetts

New Bedford MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near New Bedford MA may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in New Bedford MA

cat with cone after surgery in New Bedford MA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the New Bedford MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
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 vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore 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 opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in New Bedford

student attending online vet tech school in New Bedford MA An alternative that may be a solution 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 made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local New Bedford 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 example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask New Bedford MA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask New Bedford MA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the New Bedford MA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many New Bedford MA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online 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 complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some New Bedford MA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with New Bedford MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the New Bedford MA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the New Bedford MA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your New Bedford MA home, you must 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near New Bedford MA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Bedford MA?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the New 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 Best Veterinary Technician Program near New Bedford MA

New Bedford MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select 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 narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in New Bedford MA.