Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Vassalboro ME

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near East Vassalboro Maine

East Vassalboro ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near East Vassalboro ME may at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in East Vassalboro ME

cat with cone after surgery in East Vassalboro ME Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet 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 primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the East Vassalboro ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense 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 vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in East Vassalboro ME laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in East Vassalboro

student attending online vet tech school in East Vassalboro ME An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local East Vassalboro ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask East Vassalboro ME Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask East Vassalboro ME vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the East Vassalboro ME area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges 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 organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of East Vassalboro ME area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some East Vassalboro ME veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with East Vassalboro ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical 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 veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the East Vassalboro ME veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the East Vassalboro ME colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your East Vassalboro ME home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger 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 charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 East Vassalboro ME. Some may only be able to attend classes 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 may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Vassalboro ME?

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

Vassalboro, Maine

Vassalboro (originally Vassalborough) is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,340 at the 2010 census. Vassalboro includes the villages of Riverside, Getchell's Corner, North Vassalboro, and East Vassalboro, home to the town library and sports field. Vassalboro is included in the Augusta, Maine, micropolitan New England City and Town Area.

The town of Vassalboro was named for one of the proprietors of the Maine settlement, William Vassal (or Vassall), a descendant of one of the original patentees (and later deputy) of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and a wealthy merchant who eventually became a controversial Loyalist.[4] Other historians believe the town derives its name from the original Massachusetts proprietor William Vassal himself, who clashed with John Winthrop so frequently that he removed himself to the town of Scituate,[5] where he soon found himself embroiled in ecclesiastical controversy once again,[6] prompting his move after a decade to Barbados, where he died.[7]

On March 2, 1770, William Vassall, one of Vassalboro's early proprietors, conveyed to his niece Mary Prescott of Nova Scotia Lot Number 5 in Vassalboro, one of the so-called "Proprietor's Lots" reserved for the town's founders.[8] Niece Prescott sold the lot nine months later to a citizen of Hallowell.[9]

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near East Vassalboro ME

East Vassalboro ME vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in East Vassalboro ME.