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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Wells Maine

Wells ME vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Wells ME might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Wells ME

cat with cone after surgery in Wells ME Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs 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 jobs that they can perform within the Wells ME veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Wells

student attending online vet tech school in Wells ME An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Wells ME veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. 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 classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete 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 Wells ME Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Wells ME vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Wells ME area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally 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 list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Wells ME area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating 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 violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Wells ME veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Wells ME veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Wells ME veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Wells ME schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Wells ME home, you must make sure 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, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Wells ME. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wells ME?

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

Wells, Maine

Edmund Littlefield, an immigrant from the wool regions of Titchfield, England, built the first gristmill and later a woolen mill on the Webhannet River, becoming known as "The Father of Wells," where a monument commemorates his contribution. In 1622, the Plymouth Company in England awarded to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Lord Proprietor of Maine, territory which included the Plantation of Wells. His young cousin, Thomas Gorges, acting as deputy and agent, in 1641 granted to Rev. John Wheelwright and other settlers from Exeter, New Hampshire the right to populate the land from northeast of the Ogunquit River to southwest of the Kennebunk River. Following the death of the elder Gorges in 1647, the Massachusetts Bay Colony laid claim to Maine. In 1653, Wells was incorporated, the third town in Maine to do so, and named after Wells, England, a small cathedral city in the county of Somerset. It then included Kennebunk, set off the year Maine became a state in 1820, and Ogunquit, designated a village within Wells by the legislature in 1913, then set off in 1980.[5]

Wells was the resilient northeastern frontier of English settlement. Except for a few forts and garrisons, early attempts to colonize Maine above Wells were abandoned because of attacks by Native Americans allied with New France, which resented encroachment by New England in territory it considered its own, Acadia. Wells endured three major attacks, most famously the Raid on Wells in 1692. The region became less dangerous, however, after the Battle of Louisburg in 1745.[5]

Many early Wells settlers joined the Continental Army and were Revolutionary War heroes including Captains Samuel Gooch, Nathanial Littlefield, and Jeremiah Storer. Ocean View Cemetery on Post Road contains a well designed Civil War monument and plot honoring its service members. Visitors can walk to Founder's Park just off of Post Road onto Sanford Road, which includes a light walking trail, picnic area, and the first settlement home. Monuments list the names of Wells' founding families.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Wells ME

Wells ME vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Wells ME.