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How to Select a Vet Tech School near Dresden Maine

Dresden ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Dresden ME might initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into 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 choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Dresden ME

cat with cone after surgery in Dresden ME One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary 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 education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Dresden ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties 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 acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dresden ME labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Dresden

student attending online vet tech school in Dresden ME An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Dresden ME veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Dresden ME Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Dresden ME vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dresden ME area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Dresden ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Dresden ME vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Dresden ME veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult 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 might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Dresden ME vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Dresden ME colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Dresden ME home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within 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 higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Dresden ME. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dresden ME?

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

Bombing of Dresden in World War II

The bombing of Dresden was a British/American aerial bombing attack on the city of Dresden, the capital of the German state of Saxony, during World War II in the European Theatre. In four raids between 13 and 15 February 1945, 722 heavy bombers of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and 527 of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped more than 3,900 tons of high-explosive bombs and incendiary devices on the city.[1] The bombing and the resulting firestorm destroyed over 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of the city centre.[2] An estimated 22,700[3] to 25,000[4] people were killed, although larger casualty figures have been claimed. Three more USAAF air raids followed, two occurring on 2 March aimed at the city's railway marshalling yard and one smaller raid on 17 April aimed at industrial areas.

Immediate German propaganda claims following the attacks and post-war discussions[5] on whether the attacks were justified have led to the bombing becoming one of the moral causes célèbres of the war.[6] A 1953 United States Air Force report defended the operation as the justified bombing of a strategic target, which they noted was a major rail transport and communication centre, housing 110 factories and 50,000 workers in support of the German war effort.[7] Several researchers claim not all of the communications infrastructure, such as the bridges, were targeted, nor were the extensive industrial areas outside the city centre.[8] Critics of the bombing have claimed that Dresden was a cultural landmark of little or no strategic significance, and that the attacks were indiscriminate area bombing and not proportionate to the military gains.[9][10][11] Some in the German far-right refer to the bombing as a mass murder calling it "Dresden's Holocaust of bombs".[12][13] According to other critics, given the high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets, Dresden's destruction was unjustifiable and should be called a war crime. They claim the city could have been spared, like Rome, Paris, and Kyoto, though the British and the American militaries defended the bombing as necessary.[14]

Large variations in the claimed death toll have fuelled the controversy. In March 1945, the German government ordered its press to publish a falsified casualty figure of 200,000 for the Dresden raids, and death toll estimates as high as 500,000 have been given.[15][16][17] The city authorities at the time estimated up to 25,000 victims, a figure that subsequent investigations supported, including a 2010 study commissioned by the city council.[18]

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Dresden ME

Dresden ME vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dresden ME.