Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Gloucester ME

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near New Gloucester Maine

New Gloucester ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near New Gloucester ME could initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers 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 schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in New Gloucester ME

cat with cone after surgery in New Gloucester ME Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the New Gloucester ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Gloucester ME labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in New Gloucester

student attending online vet tech school in New Gloucester ME An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local New Gloucester ME veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask New Gloucester ME Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask New Gloucester ME vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the New Gloucester ME area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like 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 Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of New Gloucester ME area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some New Gloucester ME veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with New Gloucester ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the New Gloucester ME veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Gloucester ME programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your New Gloucester ME home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near New Gloucester ME. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Gloucester ME?

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

New Gloucester, Maine

New Gloucester is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It is home to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, the last active Shaker village in the U.S. The town's population was 5,542 at the 2010 census.[5]

New Gloucester was established under a grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1736, the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony granted a 6-square-mile (16 km2) tract of land in the Maine Territory to sixty inhabitants of the Gloucester fishing village on Cape Ann. The first settlers followed the road newly bushed out from North Yarmouth and built cabins on Harris Hill between 1739 and 1742. The settlement was abandoned from 1744-1751 due to the heightened Indian attacks during King George's War.[6]

Settlers returned and in 1753 commenced work on a two-story, fifty-foot square blockhouse with a palisade stockade 110 feet (34 m) on a side. This was home to twelve families for six years. The men worked at clearing the surrounding 60 acres (240,000 m2) of common land under the protection of two swivel guns manned by a garrison of six soldiers. One attack was made upon the fort, resulting in one scalping and two men captured. As the Indians gradually withdrew to Canada, the settlers moved out into their own newly built homes. The blockhouse continued to serve for worship and town affairs until the first meetinghouse was built in 1773. In 1788, the blockhouse was sold at auction for seven bushels of corn and moved to a farm in the intervale, where it was rebuilt as a hog house.[6]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near New Gloucester ME

New Gloucester ME vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Gloucester ME.