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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Portland Maine

Portland ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Portland ME could initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Portland ME

cat with cone after surgery in Portland ME Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Portland ME veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance 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 job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently 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 normally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Portland

student attending online vet tech school in Portland ME An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Portland ME veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Portland ME Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Portland ME vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish 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, vocational and trade schools in the Portland ME area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 obtain a superior 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 programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Portland ME area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Portland ME vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Portland ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Portland ME vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective 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. Solicit from the Portland ME colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Portland ME home, you have to make sure 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, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Portland ME. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm 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 emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Portland ME?

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

Portland, Maine

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with a population of 67,067 as of 2017.[5] The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine's total population, making it the most populous metro in northern New England (an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont). Portland's economy is heavily dependent on tourism and the Old Port district is a popular destination. The Port of Portland is the largest tonnage seaport in New England. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which is a reference to the recoveries from four devastating fires.[6] Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, Dorset. The city of Portland, Oregon was named after Portland, Maine.[7]

Native Americans originally called the Portland peninsula Machigonne ("Great Neck").[8] Portland was named for the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named for Portland, Maine.[9] The first European settler was Capt. Christopher Levett, an English naval captain granted 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in 1623 to found a settlement in Casco Bay. A member of the Council for New England and agent for Ferdinando Gorges, Levett built a stone house where he left a company of ten men, then returned to England to write a book about his voyage to bolster support for the settlement.[10]Ultimately, the settlement was a failure and the fate of Levett's colonists is unknown. The explorer sailed from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to meet John Winthrop in 1630, but never returned to Maine. Fort Levett in the harbor is named for him.

The peninsula was first permanently settled in 1632 as a fishing and trading village named Casco.[8] When the Massachusetts Bay Colony took over Casco Bay in 1658, the town's name changed again to Falmouth. In 1676, the village was destroyed by the Abenaki during King Philip's War. It was rebuilt. During King William's War, a raiding party of French and Native allies attacked and largely destroyed it again in the Battle of Fort Loyal (1690).

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Portland ME

Portland ME vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 profession. 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 reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Portland ME.