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

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Princeton New Jersey

Princeton NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Princeton NJ could initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Princeton NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Princeton NJ Among the first 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 predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, 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 immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Princeton NJ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Princeton NJ laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Princeton

student attending online vet tech school in Princeton NJ An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Princeton NJ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Princeton NJ Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Princeton NJ vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Princeton NJ area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Princeton NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations 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 recommendation, call some Princeton NJ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Princeton NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Princeton NJ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Princeton NJ schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Princeton NJ home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Princeton NJ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Princeton NJ?

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

Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, that was established in its current form on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township. As of the 2010 United States Census, the municipality's population was 28,572, reflecting the former township's population of 16,265, along with the 12,307 in the former borough.[7][8][9][10][11]

Princeton was founded before the American Revolution and is best known as the home of Princeton University, located in the community since 1756. Although its association with the university is primarily what makes Princeton a college town, other important institutions in the area include the Institute for Advanced Study, Westminster Choir College, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton Theological Seminary, Opinion Research Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Siemens Corporate Research, SRI International, FMC Corporation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Amrep, Church and Dwight, Berlitz International, and Dow Jones & Company.

Princeton is roughly equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia. It is close to many major highways that serve both cities (e.g. Interstate 95 and US Route 1), and receives major television and radio broadcasts from each. It is also close to Trenton, New Jersey's capital city, and Edison.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Princeton NJ

Princeton NJ vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick 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 assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Princeton NJ.