Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pittsfield MA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Pittsfield Massachusetts

Pittsfield MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Pittsfield MA might at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Pittsfield MA

cat with cone after surgery in Pittsfield MA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Pittsfield MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Pittsfield

student attending online vet tech school in Pittsfield 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 through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Pittsfield MA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Pittsfield MA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Pittsfield MA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Pittsfield MA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select 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 should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech 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 gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Pittsfield MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian 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 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 complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Pittsfield MA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through 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 approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Pittsfield MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Pittsfield MA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pittsfield MA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Pittsfield MA home, you must make sure that the commuting 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Pittsfield MA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pittsfield MA?

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

Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Pittsfield is the largest city and the historic county seat of Berkshire County,[2]Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. The population was 44,737 at the 2010 census.[3] Although the population has declined in recent decades, Pittsfield remains the fourth largest municipality in western Massachusetts, behind only Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee.

In 2005, Farmers Insurance ranked Pittsfield 20th in the United States as "Most Secure Place To Live" among small towns with fewer than 150,000 residents.[4] In 2006, Forbes ranked Pittsfield as number 61 in its list of Best Small Places for Business.[5] In 2008, Country Home magazine ranked Pittsfield as #24 in a listing of "green cities" east of the Mississippi.[6] In 2009, the City of Pittsfield was chosen to receive a 2009 Commonwealth Award, Massachusetts' highest award in the arts, humanities, and sciences.[7] In 2010, the Financial Times proclaimed Pittsfield the "Brooklyn of the Berkshires", in an article covering its recent renaissance.[8]

In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places for single people to retire in the U.S. by U.S. News, due to the high number of single older residents and higher likelihood of finding companionship or a partner.[9]

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near Pittsfield MA

Pittsfield MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pittsfield MA.