Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Farmington ME

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Farmington Maine

Farmington ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Farmington ME could at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Farmington ME

cat with cone after surgery in Farmington ME One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Farmington ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general 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 tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Farmington

student attending online vet tech school in Farmington ME An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Farmington ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Farmington ME Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Farmington ME vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer 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 Farmington ME area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Farmington ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Farmington ME veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs 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. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Farmington ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Farmington ME veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Farmington ME schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Farmington ME home, you have to confirm 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 close by or within a large 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Farmington ME. Some might only be able to go to 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 might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Farmington ME?

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

Farmington, Maine

Farmington is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Maine, United States.[4] As of the 2010 census, the town population was 7,760. Farmington is home to the University of Maine at Farmington, the Nordica Memorial Auditorium, the Homestead, and the annual Farmington Fair.

The area was once territory of the Canibas tribe of Abenaki Indians. They had two camps located near Farmington Falls, with fields cleared for cultivation of maize and potatoes. Their fort's stockade enclosed about an acre at the center of what is today Farmington Falls village. A group from Topsham arrived in 1776 to explore the area and lay out a town, called Plantation No. 1 or Sandy River Plantation, but permanent settlement was delayed by the Revolutionary War.[5]

In 1781, the first settlers arrived, the same year a sawmill was established. On February 1, 1794, Sandy River Plantation was incorporated as Farmington, named for its unusually fertile soil. Beginning with a cluster of log houses at Farmington Falls, the town grew quickly and prospered. Agriculture was an important early occupation, with hay a principal product. Orchards yielded apples and other fruit. Farmington became one of the largest wool producing towns in New England, with many herds of sheep grazing the hills and intervales.[6]

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Farmington ME

Farmington ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Farmington ME.