Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Burlington MA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Burlington Massachusetts

Burlington MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Burlington MA could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Burlington MA

cat with cone after surgery in Burlington MA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Burlington MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. 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 involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Burlington MA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Burlington

student attending online vet tech school in Burlington MA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Burlington MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose 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 complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Burlington MA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Burlington MA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Burlington MA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Burlington MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Burlington MA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Burlington MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school 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 evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Burlington MA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Burlington MA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Burlington MA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Burlington MA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Burlington MA?

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

Burlington, Massachusetts

It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, Yorkshire, but this has never been confirmed[n 1]. It was first settled in 1641 and was officially incorporated on February 28, 1799; several of the early homesteads are still standing, such as the Francis Wyman House, dating from 1666. The town is sited on the watersheds of the Ipswich, Mystic, and Shawsheen rivers. In colonial times up through the late 19th century, there was industry in the mills along Vine Brook, which runs from Lexington to Bedford and then empties into the Shawsheen River.

Burlington is now a suburban industrial town at the junction of the Boston-Merrimack corridor, but for most of its history it was almost entirely agricultural, selling hops and rye to Boston and supplementing that income with small shoe-making shops. Early railroad expansion passed the town by (although the town was serviced by the Middlesex Turnpike), limiting its early development, and Burlington continued to cure hams for the Boston market and produce milk, fruit, and vegetables.

This picture changed drastically, however, as soon as Route 128 was built. The highway kicked off an enormous expansion, and between 1955 and 1965 Burlington was the fastest growing town in the state. In one five-year period, its population tripled as residential and commercial retail development exploded creating the town's present character. It is currently a residential and profesional hub.

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Burlington MA

Burlington MA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burlington MA.