Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Palisades Park NJ

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Palisades Park New Jersey

Palisades Park NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Palisades Park NJ might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Palisades Park NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Palisades Park NJ One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Palisades Park NJ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Palisades Park

student attending online vet tech school in Palisades Park NJ An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Palisades Park NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Palisades Park NJ Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Palisades Park NJ vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Palisades Park NJ area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Palisades Park NJ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Palisades Park NJ veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Palisades Park NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Palisades Park NJ vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded 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 receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Palisades Park NJ schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Palisades Park NJ home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Palisades Park NJ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Palisades Park NJ?

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

Palisades Park, New Jersey

Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 19,622,[7][8][9] reflecting an increase of 2,549 (+14.9%) from the 17,073 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,537 (+17.5%) from the 14,536 counted in the 1990 Census.[18]

The borough of Palisades Park was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township. A portion of its area was annexed by the neighboring borough of Fort Lee in April 1909.[19][20][21] The borough was named for its location atop the New Jersey Palisades.[22][23]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.276 square miles (3.304 km2), including 1.251 square miles (3.241 km2) of land and 0.025 square miles (0.064 km2) of water (1.93%).[1][2]

Choose the Right Vet Tech Program near Palisades Park NJ

Palisades Park NJ vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties 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 outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Palisades Park NJ.