Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Morristown NJ

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Morristown New Jersey

Morristown NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Morristown NJ may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Morristown NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Morristown NJ One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Morristown NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. 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 work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally 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 urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Morristown NJ labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Morristown

student attending online vet tech school in Morristown NJ An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Morristown NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Morristown NJ Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Morristown NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Morristown NJ area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Morristown NJ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Morristown NJ veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Morristown NJ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Morristown NJ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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 larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Morristown NJ schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Morristown NJ home, you must make certain that the driving 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 campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Morristown NJ. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Morristown NJ?

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

Morristown, New Jersey

Morristown /ˈmɒrɪstaʊn/ is a town and the county seat of Morris County, New Jersey, United States.[19] Morristown has been called "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the war for independence from Great Britain.[20][21] Today this history is visible in a variety of locations throughout the town that collectively make up Morristown National Historical Park.

According to British colonial records, the first permanent European settlement at Morristown occurred in 1715, when a settlement was founded as New Hanover by migrants from New York and Connecticut. Morris County was created on March 15, 1739, from portions of Hunterdon County. The county, and ultimately Morristown itself, was named for the popular Governor of the Province, Lewis Morris, who championed benefits for the colonists.[22][23]

Morristown was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1865, within Morris Township, and it was formally set off from the township in 1895.[24] As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 18,411,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 133 (-0.7%) from the 18,544 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,355 (+14.5%) from the 16,189 counted in the 1990 Census.[25]

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Morristown NJ

Morristown NJ vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Morristown NJ.