Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Kents Hill ME

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Kents Hill Maine

Kents Hill ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Kents Hill ME could initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Kents Hill ME

cat with cone after surgery in Kents Hill ME One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests 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 a number of tasks that they can perform within the Kents Hill ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Kents Hill

student attending online vet tech school in Kents Hill ME An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Kents Hill ME veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Kents Hill ME Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Kents Hill ME vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Kents Hill ME area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school 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 veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician 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 gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Kents Hill ME area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking 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 violations concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Kents Hill ME veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Kents Hill ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Kents Hill ME vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Kents Hill ME colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus 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 veterinary technician classes from your Kents Hill ME home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in 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, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Kents Hill ME. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kents Hill ME?

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

Kents Hill School

Kents Hill School (also known as Kents Hill or KHS) is a co-educational, independent college-preparatory school for boarding and day students. Kents Hill is located in Kents Hill, Maine, 12 miles west of the state capital of Augusta. It is the 30th oldest boarding school in the United States and one of the oldest continuously operating co-educational college preparatory schools.[2] One of the three oldest Methodist academies in the United States (with Cazenovia Seminary and Wilbraham Academy), the school is now a member of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

Kents Hill was founded in 1824 as the Maine Wesleyan Seminary[3] by Luther Sampson, a Duxbury, Massachusetts native and a veteran of the American Revolution. According to an early publication of the Kents Hill Breeze, a defunct school periodical, Luther "was of the fifth generation in lineal descent from Henry Sampson, one of the Pilgrim band that landed on Plymouth Rock, December 22, 1620."[4] A carpenter[5] who had not had a formal education, Sampson wanted to use the wealth he had earned in his profession and the government-granted assignment of land he earned as a Colonial soldier to benefit society and to glorify God. Sampson, his wife Abigail Ford, and their children lived in Duxbury and, later, Marshfield, before relocating to over two hundred acres in Readfield, Maine, around the turn of the century.[4] In 1821, Sampson incorporated there the "Readfield Religious and Charitable Society", whose original charter contained no mention of a school, but rather laid a plan to support area Methodist belief and practice. Sampson deeded the society over one hundred acres of land on Kents Hill.

Failing financially and seeking a more efficacious means of performing his mission, by 1823 Sampson had begun to explore the possibility of changing the society's identity into one rooted in the education of youths.[4] Together with Elihu Robinson, a carpenter-schoolmaster in the nearby city of Augusta, and his wife, they opened the Seminary in order to better society through education. Boys and girls appeared on the school's roster from the day the school opened.

Select the Best Vet Tech Program near Kents Hill ME

Kents Hill ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Kents Hill ME.