How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Houlton Maine
Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Houlton ME may initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Houlton ME
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Houlton ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs 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 Houlton ME laboratories or research facilities as well.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Houlton
An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Houlton ME veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Houlton ME Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Houlton ME area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Houlton ME area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking 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 targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Houlton ME vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Houlton ME veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Houlton ME veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Houlton ME programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Houlton ME home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Houlton ME. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Houlton ME?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Houlton Maine area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the Canada–US border, located at 46°07′32″N 67°50′23″W / 46.1256°N 67.8398°W / 46.1256; -67.8398. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith, a goodwill ambassador as a child during the Cold War. The town hosts the annual Houlton Agricultural Fair.
Houlton is the county seat for Aroostook County, and as such its nickname is the "Shire Town." The Houlton High School sports teams are named "The Shiretowners." The Meduxnekeag River flows through the heart of the town, and the border with the Canadian province of New Brunswick is 3 mi (4.8 km) east of the town's center. Houlton was the home of Ricker College which closed in 1978.[4]
The area was occupied for thousands of years by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. In historic times, these were the Algonquian-speaking Maliseet people. When Maine was part of Massachusetts, parcels of land were dealt out to schools and colleges. The area that was to become Houlton was deeded to the Academy of New Salem, Massachusetts. Thirteen men from New Salem bought the land from the Academey though only three settled there.[6]
Select the Best Vet Tech School near Houlton ME
Selecting the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Houlton ME.
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