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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Westford Massachusetts

Westford MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Westford MA may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Westford MA

cat with cone after surgery in Westford MA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote 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 each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Westford MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Westford

student attending online vet tech school in Westford MA An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Westford MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make 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 practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Westford MA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Westford MA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Westford MA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 a rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Westford MA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional 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 assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Westford MA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges 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 professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Westford MA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Westford MA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Westford MA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Westford MA home, you have to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Westford MA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Westford MA?

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

Westford, Massachusetts

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Westford primarily produced granite, apples, and worsted yarn. The Abbot Worsted Company was said to be the first company in the nation to use camel hair for worsted yarns.[4] Citizens from Westford also had some notable involvement in the Revolutionary War.[2] Westford Minutemen were alerted by efforts of Samuel Prescott who alerted Acton, to the southeast towards Stow.[citation needed]

By the end of the American Civil War, as roads and transportation improved, Westford began to serve as a residential suburb for the factories of Lowell, becoming one of the earliest notable examples of suburban sprawl.[citation needed] Throughout the 20th century (and with the invention of the automobile), Westford progressively grew, continuing to serve as residential housing for the industries of Lowell, and later, Boston.

By the 1990s, Westford was home to offices for Red Hat, Samsung, Sonus Networks, Seagate, Iris Associates, Visual Solutions, and many other technology firms, most located along Massachusetts Route 110, parallel to I-495. It is also the North American headquarters for Puma, which holds a road race in town.[6] The leading manufacturer of EEG electrodes, HydroDot Inc., located here in 2007.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician College near Westford MA

Westford MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Westford MA.