Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Greenville ME

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Greenville Maine

Greenville ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Greenville ME may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Greenville ME

cat with cone after surgery in Greenville ME Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Greenville ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, 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 typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone 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 vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced 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 fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Greenville ME labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Greenville

student attending online vet tech school in Greenville ME An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Greenville 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 expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Greenville ME Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Greenville ME vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Greenville ME area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Greenville ME area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Greenville ME veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Greenville ME veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Greenville ME veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure 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 Greenville ME schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Greenville ME home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Greenville ME. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Greenville ME?

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

Greenville, Maine

Greenville is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,646 at the 2010 census. The town is centered on the lower end of Moosehead Lake, the largest body of fresh water in the state. Greenville is the historic gateway to the north country and a center for outdoor recreation in the area. Greenville High School, with 89 students, was ranked as the third best high school in Maine and one of the top 1,000 in the US in 2010.[4]

First called T9 R10 NWP (or Township 9, Range 10, North of the Waldo Patent), the land was granted about 1812 by the Massachusetts General Court to Thornton Academy in Saco. In 1824, Nathaniel Haskell of Westbrook bought the Thornton Academy Grant. With Oliver Young and John Smith, he began clearing trees that summer for farming near Wilson Pond, where the Wilson Stream would provide water power for mills.[5]

In 1827, Haskell completed a house, and his family joined him. A sawmill was built on Wilson Stream in 1829, with a gristmill added the following year. In 1835, Henry Gower began clearing land beside Moosehead Lake for what would develop into Greenville village. There he erected the first hotel, a two-story building called The Seboomook House, and the first store. On February 6, 1836, Greenville was incorporated from Haskell Plantation, and named for its green forests. By 1846, Greenville village included two houses, two blacksmith shops and a schoolhouse. On August 10, 1848, the town annexed land from Wilson, the remainder of which was distributed to Shirley and Elliotsville.[5]

Select the Right Vet Tech School near Greenville ME

Greenville ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Greenville ME.