Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Bergenfield NJ

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Bergenfield New Jersey

Bergenfield NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Bergenfield NJ might initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Bergenfield NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Bergenfield NJ One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Bergenfield NJ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically 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 general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Bergenfield NJ labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Bergenfield

student attending online vet tech school in Bergenfield NJ An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bergenfield NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Bergenfield NJ Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Bergenfield NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian 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 veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Bergenfield NJ area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Bergenfield NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Bergenfield NJ veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Bergenfield NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Bergenfield NJ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Bergenfield NJ colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Bergenfield NJ home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bergenfield NJ. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bergenfield NJ?

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

Bergenfield, New Jersey

Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 26,764,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 517 (+2.0%) from the 26,247 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,789 (+7.3%) from the 24,458 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Bergenfield was formed on the basis of a referendum held on June 25, 1894, from portions of Englewood Township and Palisades Township.[21][22][23] The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[24] The borough was named for its location in Bergen County.[25]

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 211th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[26] The magazine ranked Bergenfield as its 231st best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live".[27]

Pick the Best Vet Tech College near Bergenfield NJ

Bergenfield NJ vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support 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 excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online 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 selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bergenfield NJ.