Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Rumford ME - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Rumford Maine

Rumford ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Rumford ME may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Rumford ME

cat with cone after surgery in Rumford ME One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Rumford ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Rumford

student attending online vet tech school in Rumford ME An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Rumford ME veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Rumford ME Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Rumford ME vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Rumford ME area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among 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 verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Rumford ME area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Rumford ME veterinary clinics that you might 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 colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Rumford ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Rumford ME veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly 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 may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Rumford ME programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Rumford ME home, you must confirm that the driving 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 larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Rumford ME. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Rumford ME?

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

Rumford, Maine

Originally called New Pennacook Plantation, the township was granted in 1779 to Timothy Walker, Jr. and associates of Concord, New Hampshire. Both Pennacook and Rumford are former names of Concord, from which many early settlers arrived. The first pioneers, however, were Jonathan Keyes and his son Francis in 1782 from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1800, the town would later annex land from Peru and Franklin Plantation.[4]

Located in the foothills of the White Mountains, Rumford is the site of Pennacook Falls, called by historian George J. Varney "the grandest cataract in New England," where the Androscoggin River drops 177 feet (54 m) over solid granite. Bands of St. Francis Indians once hunted and fished here, where salmon spawn in the 13-acre (5.3 ha) pool below Upper Falls, a barrier that fish cannot pass. The river is home to a large population of the finless brown variety of trout. Indians also came here to trade furs brought from the lakes region. Sawmills and gristmills were built to harness water power from the falls, although Rumford would remain primarily agricultural during its first 100 years.[5]

In 1882, industrialist Hugh J. Chisholm recognized the falls' potential for the manufacture of paper. Chisholm directed construction of the Portland and Rumford Falls Railway connecting Rumford to the national rail network in 1892.[6] The first paper mill began operation in 1893, drawing an infusion of people and money into the sleepy community of about 200 residents. Oxford Paper Company, owned by Chisholm, would dominate Rumford's riverfront and economy.[7]

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician School near Rumford ME

Rumford ME vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Rumford ME.