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How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Weston Massachusetts

Weston MA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Weston MA might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Weston MA

cat with cone after surgery in Weston MA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Weston MA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference 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 required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Weston

student attending online vet tech school in Weston MA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Weston MA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Weston MA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Weston MA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish 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 Weston MA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Weston MA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Massachusetts school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Weston MA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Weston MA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Weston MA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well 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 probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Weston MA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Weston 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Weston MA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Weston MA?

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

Weston, Massachusetts

Weston was incorporated in 1713, and protection of the town's historic resources is driven by the Weston Historical Commission and Weston Historical Society. The town has one Local Historic District, 10 National Register Districts, 26 Historic Areas, and seven houses individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

In the town’s 2014 Community Livability Survey, 97 percent of respondents rated Weston an excellent or good place to live. Among the survey's eight "facets of community livability," four of them—education, natural environment, safety, and community engagement—were rated higher than national benchmarks.

Weston's predominance as a residential community is reflected in its population density, which is among the lowest of Boston's suburbs near or within Route 128.[3] More than 2,000 acres, or 18 percent of the town's total acreage, have been preserved as parks, fields, wetlands, and forests, with 90 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.[4][5] Thirty-seven scenic roads, as defined by Massachusetts law,[6] maintain the town's aesthetic value and historical significance, affording Weston a semi-rural ambiance.[7]

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Weston MA

Weston MA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Weston MA.