Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools South Freeport ME

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near South Freeport Maine

South Freeport ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near South Freeport ME might at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in South Freeport ME

cat with cone after surgery in South Freeport ME Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the South Freeport ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 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 fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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 South Freeport ME laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in South Freeport

student attending online vet tech school in South Freeport ME An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local South Freeport ME veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask South Freeport ME Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask South Freeport ME vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the South Freeport ME area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of South Freeport ME area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some South Freeport ME veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with South Freeport ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the South Freeport ME veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South Freeport ME schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your South Freeport ME home, you have to confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near 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 increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near South Freeport ME. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near South Freeport ME?

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

Freeport, Maine

Freeport is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,879 at the 2010 census. Known for its numerous outlet stores, Freeport is home to L.L. Bean, Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, and the Desert of Maine.

The town was once a part of North Yarmouth called Harraseeket, after the Harraseeket River. First settled about 1700, it was set off and incorporated on February 14, 1789 as Freeport. It is probably named "from the openness of its harbor" (free from ice).[4] Freeport developed as four villages—Mast Landing, Porter's Landing, South Freeport and Freeport Corner—all of which are now part of the Harraseeket Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the head of tide on the Harraseeket River is Mast Landing, from which timber was shipped, particularly for use as masts. The estuary was dammed to provide water power for a gristmill, sawmill and fulling mill, with modest manufacturing and woodworking.[4] Porter's Landing was involved in shipbuilding, important in Freeport following the Revolutionary War. The industry reached its peak in the decade between 1850 and 1860, but declined with the Civil War.[5] South Freeport, the largest of the waterfront villages, once had four shipyards. Other businesses included fishing, canning and farming. In 1903, the Casco Castle and Amusement Park was built here by Amos Gerald to encourage travel by trolley cars. The hotel burned in 1914, but its tower still stands. Freeport Corner was an inland village for farming and trade, but the 1849 entrance of the railroad helped it develop into the town's commercial center, which it remains. In the 19th century, fabric was sent from New York and Boston to be made into clothing by local piece workers. Businessman E. B. Mallet established here a sawmill, brickyard, granite quarry and large shoe factory.[6]

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near South Freeport ME

South Freeport ME vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided 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 selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in South Freeport ME.