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How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Cambridge Massachusetts

Cambridge MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Cambridge MA might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Cambridge MA

cat with cone after surgery in Cambridge MA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Cambridge MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain 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 differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the main 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 mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can 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 Cambridge MA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Cambridge

student attending online vet tech school in Cambridge MA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Cambridge MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Cambridge MA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Cambridge MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Cambridge MA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Cambridge MA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Cambridge MA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Cambridge MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Cambridge MA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Cambridge MA schools 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 students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Cambridge MA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges 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 in the evenings near Cambridge MA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Cambridge MA?

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

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Situated directly north of Boston, across the Charles River, it was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders.[4]:18

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), two of the world's most prestigious universities, are in Cambridge,[5] as was Radcliffe College, one of the leading colleges for women in the United States until it merged with Harvard on October 1, 1999.

According to the 2010 Census, the city's population was 105,162.[6] As of July 2014[update], it was the fifth most populous city in the state, behind Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell.[7] Cambridge was one of two seats of Middlesex County until the county government was abolished in Massachusetts in 1997. Lowell was the other.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech School near Cambridge MA

Cambridge MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Cambridge MA.