Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Marshfield MA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Marshfield Massachusetts

Marshfield MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Marshfield MA may at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Marshfield MA

cat with cone after surgery in Marshfield MA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Marshfield MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities 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 fashion the vet 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 tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination 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 earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Marshfield MA labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Marshfield

student attending online vet tech school in Marshfield MA An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Marshfield MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. 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 included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Marshfield MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Marshfield MA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Marshfield MA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Marshfield MA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Marshfield MA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Marshfield MA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Marshfield MA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Marshfield MA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Marshfield MA home, you must make sure that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Marshfield MA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Marshfield MA?

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

Marshfield, Massachusetts

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.74 square miles (82.2 km²). 28.46 square miles (73.7 km²) of it is land and 3.28 square miles (8.5 km²) of it (10.33%) is water. Marshfield is bordered by Massachusetts Bay to the east, Duxbury to the south and southeast, Pembroke to the west, Norwell to the northwest, and Scituate to the north and northeast. Marshfield is 18 miles (29 km) east of Brockton and 29 miles (47 km) southeast of Boston.

Marshfield is named for the many salt marshes which border the salt and brackish borders of the town. There are three rivers, the North (along the northern border of the town), South (which branches at the mouth of the North River and heads south through the town) and the Green Harbor River (which flows just west of Brant Rock and Green Harbor Point at the south of town).

The South River divides a peninsula from the rest of the town, where Rexhame village and the Humarock and Fourth Cliff neighborhoods of the town of Scituate lie. The Scituate neighborhoods can be reached by land by two bridges, by boat, or by foot along Rexhame Beach. The Rexhame-Humarock peninsula is a barrier beach with an 84-foot-high (26 m) moraine, one of only two barrier beach moraines on the east coast of the United States.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician School near Marshfield MA

Marshfield MA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick 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 included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Marshfield MA.