How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Pittsfield New Hampshire

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Pittsfield NH could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Pittsfield NH 

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Pittsfield NH veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Pittsfield NH laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Pittsfield

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows 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 Pittsfield NH veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm 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 comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pittsfield NH Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Pittsfield NH area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Pittsfield NH area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Hampshire school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Pittsfield NH veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out 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 approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Pittsfield NH veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Pittsfield NH veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pittsfield NH programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor 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 approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pittsfield NH home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Pittsfield NH. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pittsfield NH?

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

Select the Right Veterinary Technician School near Pittsfield NH

Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pittsfield NH.

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