Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Parsonsfield ME

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Parsonsfield Maine

Parsonsfield ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Parsonsfield ME could initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Parsonsfield ME

cat with cone after surgery in Parsonsfield ME One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Parsonsfield ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets 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 medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. 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 work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Parsonsfield

student attending online vet tech school in Parsonsfield ME An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Parsonsfield ME veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Parsonsfield ME Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Parsonsfield ME vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Parsonsfield ME area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you verify 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 review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting 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 in many cases a precondition for employment for many Parsonsfield ME area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with 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 targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Parsonsfield ME veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Parsonsfield ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Parsonsfield ME veterinary 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 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Parsonsfield ME colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Parsonsfield 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 school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Parsonsfield ME. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Parsonsfield ME?

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

Parsonsfield, Maine

Parsonsfield is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2010 census. Parsonsfield includes the villages of Kezar Falls, Parsonsfield, and North, East and South Parsonsfield. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.

This was part of a large tract of land sold on November 28, 1668 by Newichewannock Indian Chief Sunday (or Wesumbe) to Francis Small, a trader from Kittery. The price was two large Indian blankets, two gallons of rum, two pounds of gunpowder, four pounds of musket balls and twenty strings of Indian beads. Small then sold half his interest to Major Nicholas Shapleigh of what is now Eliot. In 1771, heirs sold the township to Thomas Parsons and 39 associates, upon which it was surveyed into 100-acre (0.40 km2) lots. Called Parsonstown Plantation, it was first settled in 1772 by 12 families.[4]

On August 29, 1785, the town was incorporated as Parsonsfield after Thomas Parsons, one of the largest proprietors. The Blazo-Leavitt House, a fine example of the Federal style, was built in 1812. Parsonsfield Seminary was founded in 1832 and closed in 1949.[5]

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Parsonsfield ME

Parsonsfield ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Parsonsfield ME.