How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Fairfield Maine

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fairfield ME might at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Fairfield ME 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Fairfield ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases 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 vocational school or community college. 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 complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may 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  Fairfield ME labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Fairfield

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Fairfield ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Fairfield ME Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Fairfield ME area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Fairfield ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with 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 complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Fairfield ME veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Fairfield ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Fairfield ME veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fairfield ME schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Fairfield ME home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Fairfield ME. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fairfield ME?

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

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech Program near Fairfield ME

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when 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 profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fairfield ME.

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