Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Durham NH

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near New Durham New Hampshire

New Durham NH vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near New Durham NH may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in New Durham NH

cat with cone after surgery in New Durham NH Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the New Durham NH veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance 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 completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may 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 New Durham NH laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in New Durham

student attending online vet tech school in New Durham NH An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local New Durham NH veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program 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 dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask New Durham NH Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask New Durham NH vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the New Durham NH area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of New Durham NH area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Hampshire school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some New Durham NH veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with New Durham NH veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the New Durham NH veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the New Durham NH colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your New Durham NH home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near New Durham NH. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Durham NH?

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

Durham, New Hampshire

The primary settlement in the town, where 10,345 people resided at the 2010 census,[1] is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Durham census-designated place (CDP) and includes the densely populated portion of the town centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 108 and Main Street and including the university which dominates the town.

Situated beside Great Bay at the mouth of the Oyster River, Durham was originally called "Oyster River Plantation". It was settled in 1635 by pioneers who traveled up the Piscataqua River and across Little Bay to settle at the falls of the Oyster River.

At the time, the land that is now New Hampshire belonged to Massachusetts; not until 1692 did the New Hampshire colony finally gain full and permanent independence from its southern neighbor. Most of the coastal area was divided among four townships, and for its first century, Durham was part of Dover. The village location was ideal for its fresh water, natural meadows for livestock, and the transportation opportunities afforded by the waterways leading to the Atlantic Ocean. The land along the river was quickly settled, and nearby dense forests provided the timber necessary to construct homes as well as boats. Oyster River Plantation took the form of a small agricultural village, and the first generation of residents worked to clear and shape the land for planting.[2]

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near New Durham NH

New Durham NH vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New Durham NH.