Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Mahwah NJ - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Mahwah New Jersey

Mahwah NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Mahwah NJ might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications 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 technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Mahwah NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Mahwah NJ One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Mahwah 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 technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Mahwah NJ labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Mahwah

student attending online vet tech school in Mahwah NJ An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Mahwah NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Mahwah NJ Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Mahwah NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mahwah NJ area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college 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 reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Mahwah NJ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Mahwah NJ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Mahwah NJ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Mahwah NJ vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mahwah NJ colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few 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 teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Mahwah NJ home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near 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 fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Mahwah NJ. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Mahwah NJ?

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

Mahwah, New Jersey

Mahwah is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 25,890.[9][10] The population increased by 1,828 (+7.6%) from the 24,062 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 6,157 (+34.4%) from the 17,905 counted in the 1990 Census.[20][21] The name "Mahwah" is derived from the Lenape word "mawewi" which means "Meeting Place" or "Place Where Paths Meet".[22][23][24]

The area that is now Mahwah was originally formed as Hohokus Township on April 9, 1849, from portions of Franklin Township (now Wyckoff). While known as Hohokus Township, territory was taken to form Orvil Township (on January 1, 1886; remainder of township is now Waldwick), Allendale (November 10, 1894), Upper Saddle River (November 22, 1894) and Ramsey (March 10, 1908). On November 7, 1944, the area was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as the Township of Mahwah, based on the results of a referendum held that day, replacing Hohokus Township.[25]

The Lenape and ancestral indigenous peoples were the original inhabitants of Mahwah (the meeting place) and surrounding area. Their descendants have combined with other Native Americans and ethnicities and were recognized in 1980 by the state as the Ramapough Mountain Indians. They number approximately 5,000 people living around the Ramapo Mountains of northern New Jersey and southern New York. The tribe is officially recognized by New Jersey, but does not have federal recognition.[27] Their tribal office is located on Stag Hill Road in Mahwah, and the Chief of the Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation is Dwaine Perry (as of March 2007).[28]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Mahwah NJ

Mahwah NJ vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Mahwah NJ.