Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Greenfield MA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Greenfield Massachusetts

Greenfield MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Greenfield MA could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Greenfield MA

cat with cone after surgery in Greenfield MA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Greenfield MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to 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 general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Greenfield MA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Greenfield

student attending online vet tech school in Greenfield MA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Greenfield MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain 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 provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Greenfield MA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Greenfield MA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like 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, trade and vocational schools in the Greenfield MA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Greenfield MA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating 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 violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Greenfield MA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Greenfield MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Greenfield MA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Greenfield MA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Greenfield MA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college 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 taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Greenfield MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Greenfield MA?

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

Greenfield, Massachusetts

Greenfield is a city in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. Greenfield was first settled in 1686. The population was 17,456 at the 2010 census.[2] It is the county seat of Franklin County.[3] Greenfield is home to Greenfield Community College, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Franklin County Fair. The city has a Main Street Historic District containing fine examples of Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian architecture.

Pocumtuck Indians first settled and originally inhabited the Greenfield area. Native American artifacts found in the area have been dated between 7,000 and 9,000 years B.C.[4] The Pocumtucks planted field crops and fished local rivers. Some sources claim that they were wiped out by the Mohawks in 1664 and that the land was left unoccupied.[5] This theory may be an example of the principle of vacuum domicilium, a frequently used justification for the displacement of native peoples.[6] Other sources show that the Pocumtucks joined the Wampanoag chief Metacom in August 1675 in the fight against English encroachment, indicating a continued presence in the area.[7] The Pocumtuck also played an important role in the Battle of Great Falls / Wissantinnewag – Peskeompskut on May 19, 1676, and tribal oral tradition indicates that following the battle, elements of the Pocumtuck fled to and were incorporated into the Abenaki people to the north and the Mahican people to the west.[7]

In 1795, the South Hadley Canal opened, enabling boats to bypass the South Hadley falls and reach Greenfield via the Connecticut River. Located at the confluence of the Deerfield and Green rivers, and not far from where they merge into the Connecticut River, Greenfield developed into a trade center. Falls provided water power for industry, and Greenfield grew into a prosperous mill town. John Russell established the Green River Works in 1834, hiring skilled German workers at what was the country's first cutlery factory. The Connecticut River Railroad was the first of several railways to enter the town, replacing the former canal trade. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Greenfield was one of the most important American centers of the tap and die business and was the home of Greenfield Tap & Die Company (GTD).

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Greenfield MA

Greenfield MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination 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 when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down 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 Greenfield MA.