Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Rutherford NJ

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near East Rutherford New Jersey

East Rutherford NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near East Rutherford NJ may initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in East Rutherford NJ

cat with cone after surgery in East Rutherford NJ One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests 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 while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the East Rutherford NJ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 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 career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in East Rutherford NJ labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in East Rutherford

student attending online vet tech school in East Rutherford NJ An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local East Rutherford NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask East Rutherford NJ Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask East Rutherford NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the East Rutherford NJ area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many East Rutherford NJ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some East Rutherford NJ veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with East Rutherford 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 beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the East Rutherford NJ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the East Rutherford NJ programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your East Rutherford NJ home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger 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 fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near East Rutherford NJ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Rutherford NJ?

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

East Rutherford, New Jersey

East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 8,913,[8][9][10] reflecting an increase of 197 (+2.3%) from the 8,716 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 814 (+10.3%) from the 7,902 counted in the 1990 Census.[18] It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located 7 miles (11 km) west of Midtown Manhattan.

Under the terms of an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1889, a portion of the old Union Township was incorporated under the name of Boiling Springs Township.[19] The new township took its name from a spring in the community. On March 28, 1894, the Borough of East Rutherford was created, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day, and Boiling Springs Township was dissolved.[19] While there was no change in its borders, the name and form of government were changed.[19][20] The borough was the second formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[21]

East Rutherford is the home of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which includes Meadowlands Arena and MetLife Stadium, and was previously the location of Giants Stadium. The arena is best known as the longtime home of the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association and the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League, and also hosted college basketball, arena football, concerts, and other events. MetLife Stadium is home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) and hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, which made East Rutherford the smallest city ever to host a Super Bowl. Giants Stadium, which hosted the Giants and Jets until 2009, was also the original home of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. East Rutherford is the only municipality with fewer than 10,000 residents to have been home to five professional sports teams simultaneously.[22]

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near East Rutherford NJ

East Rutherford NJ vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in East Rutherford NJ.