Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Plymouth Meeting MA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Plymouth Meeting Massachusetts

Plymouth Meeting MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Plymouth Meeting MA could initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Plymouth Meeting MA

cat with cone after surgery in Plymouth Meeting MA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Plymouth Meeting MA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore 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 job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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 Plymouth Meeting MA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Plymouth Meeting

student attending online vet tech school in Plymouth Meeting MA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Plymouth Meeting MA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Plymouth Meeting MA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Plymouth Meeting MA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Plymouth Meeting MA area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Plymouth Meeting MA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations 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 recommendation, contact some Plymouth Meeting MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Plymouth Meeting MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Plymouth Meeting MA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Plymouth Meeting MA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Plymouth Meeting MA home, you need to make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Plymouth Meeting MA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Plymouth Meeting MA?

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

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Plymouth (/ˈplɪməθ/; historically known as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The town holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklore, and culture, and is known as "America's Hometown." Plymouth was the site of the colony founded in 1620 by the Mayflower Pilgrims, where New England was first established. It is the oldest municipality in New England and one of the oldest in the United States.[5] The town has served as the location of several prominent events, one of the more notable being the First Thanksgiving feast. Plymouth served as the capital of Plymouth Colony from its founding in 1620 until the colony's merger with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. It is named after Plymouth, England where the Mayflower set sail for America.

Plymouth is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of Boston, Massachusetts in a region known as the South Shore. Throughout the 19th century, the town thrived as a center of rope making, fishing, and shipping, and was home to the Plymouth Cordage Company, formerly the world's largest rope making company. It continues to be an active port, but today its major industry is tourism.[6] The town is served by Plymouth Municipal Airport and contains Pilgrim Hall Museum, the oldest continually operating museum in the United States. It is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area.[7] The population was 58,271 as of the 2014 U.S. Census. It is one of two county seats of Plymouth County, the other being Brockton.[8]

Prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, the location of Plymouth was a village of the Wampanoag tribe called Patuxet.[9] The region was visited twice by European explorers prior to the establishment of Plymouth Colony. In 1605, Samuel de Champlain sailed to Plymouth Harbor, calling it Port St. Louis. Captain John Smith was a leader of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and he explored parts of Cape Cod Bay and is credited with naming the region "New Plimouth."[10]

Choose the Best Vet Tech Program near Plymouth Meeting MA

Plymouth Meeting MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Plymouth Meeting MA.