How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Stratton Maine
Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Stratton ME may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.
The Function of a Vet Tech in Stratton ME
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Stratton ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Stratton ME labs or research facilities as well.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Stratton
An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Stratton ME veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.
What to Ask Stratton ME Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Stratton ME area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of 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 screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Stratton ME area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Maine school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Stratton ME vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Stratton ME veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest 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 colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Stratton ME veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Stratton ME programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding 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 College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Stratton ME home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Stratton ME. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Stratton ME?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Stratton Maine area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
General Tom Thumb
Charles Sherwood Stratton (January 4, 1838 – July 15, 1883), better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb", was a dwarf who achieved great fame as a performer under circus pioneer P.T. Barnum.[1]
Stratton was the son of a Bridgeport, Connecticut, carpenter named Sherwood Edward Stratton, son of Seth Sherwood Stratton and Amy Sharpe. Sherwood married his first cousin Cynthia Thompson, daughter of Joseph Thompson and Mary Ann Sharpe. Charles Stratton's maternal and paternal grandmothers, Amy and Mary Ann Sharpe, were stated to be small twin girls born on July 11, 1781/83 in Oxford, New Haven, Connecticut.
Born in Bridgeport to parents who were of medium height, Charles was a relatively large baby, weighing 9 pounds 8 ounces (4.3 kg) at birth.[2] He developed and grew normally for the first six months of his life, at which point he was 25 inches (64 cm) tall and weighed 15 pounds (6.8 kg). Then he suddenly stopped growing. His parents became concerned when, after his first birthday, they noticed he had not grown at all in the previous six months. They showed him to their doctor, who said there was little chance Charles would ever reach normal height.
Select the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Stratton ME
Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Stratton ME.
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