Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Bernardsville NJ

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Bernardsville New Jersey

Bernardsville NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Bernardsville NJ might at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Bernardsville NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Bernardsville NJ One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Bernardsville NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example 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 instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the main 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 potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Bernardsville

student attending online vet tech school in Bernardsville NJ An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Bernardsville NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Bernardsville NJ Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Bernardsville NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bernardsville NJ area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Bernardsville NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Bernardsville NJ veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Bernardsville NJ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bernardsville NJ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate 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 larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Bernardsville NJ colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations 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? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Bernardsville NJ home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian programs 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 Bernardsville NJ. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bernardsville NJ?

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

Bernardsville, New Jersey

Bernardsville /ˈbɜːrnərdzvɪl/ is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. In 2000, Bernardsville had the 10th-highest per capita income in the state.[20] As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 7,707,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 362 (+4.9%) from the 7,345 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 748 (+11.3%) from the 6,597 counted in the 1990 Census.[21]

Bernardsville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1924, from portions of Bernards Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1924.[22] The borough was named for Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet, who served as governor of the Province of New Jersey.[23]

Bernardsville was originally a section of Bernards Township known as Vealtown.[26] In 1840, Vealtown became Bernardsville, named after Sir Francis Bernard, Colonial governor of New Jersey from 1758 to 1760.[27] Located in the northernmost part of Somerset County, just 12 miles (19 km) south of Morristown, the borough includes some of the last vestiges of the Great Eastern Forest.[28]

Select the Best Veterinary Technician School near Bernardsville NJ

Bernardsville NJ vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bernardsville NJ.