Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shrewsbury MA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Shrewsbury Massachusetts

Shrewsbury MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Shrewsbury MA might initially feel like a challenging endeavor. 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 tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Shrewsbury MA

cat with cone after surgery in Shrewsbury MA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Shrewsbury MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance 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 education prerequisites for each specialization.

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 finishing 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. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Shrewsbury

student attending online vet tech school in Shrewsbury MA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Shrewsbury MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Shrewsbury MA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Shrewsbury MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Shrewsbury MA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed 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 important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Shrewsbury MA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Shrewsbury MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Shrewsbury MA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm 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 exceptional reputation within the Shrewsbury MA veterinarian community and has a considerable 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Shrewsbury MA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Shrewsbury MA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college 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 attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Shrewsbury MA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury MA?

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

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Shrewsbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Shrewsbury, unlike surrounding towns like Grafton, Millbury, Westborough, and Northborough, did not become a mill town or farming village; most of its 19th-century growth was due to its proximity to Worcester and visitors to Lake Quinsigamond. The population was 35,608 according to the 2010 US Census, in nearly 12,400 households.

Incorporated in 1727, the town is governed now under the New England representative town meeting system, headed by the Town Manager and five-member elected Board of Selectmen whose duties include licensing, appointing various administrative positions, and calling a town meeting of citizens annually or whenever the need arises.

The Town of Shrewsbury, named for Shrewsbury, England, is a suburban community with an uneven and hilly terrain cut by a number of minor streams providing several small water power sites. Grants of land were made in what would eventually be the town beginning in 1664, with the 3,200-acre (13 km2) grant called Haynes Farm as the largest. Settlers came primarily from Sudbury and Marlborough, and the first permanent settler was Gersham Wheelock in 1720. As a town, Shrewsbury was first settled in 1722 and officially incorporated in 1727.

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician College near Shrewsbury MA

Shrewsbury MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shrewsbury MA.