Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools River Edge NJ

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near River Edge New Jersey

River Edge NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near River Edge NJ may initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in River Edge NJ

cat with cone after surgery in River Edge NJ Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary 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 even though there are many functions that they can perform within the River Edge NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in River Edge NJ laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in River Edge

student attending online vet tech school in River Edge NJ An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local River Edge NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask River Edge NJ Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask River Edge NJ vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the River Edge NJ area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want 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 need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many River Edge NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some River Edge NJ veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with River Edge NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult 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 could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy 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 might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the River Edge NJ veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the River Edge NJ programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your River Edge NJ home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by 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 higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near River Edge NJ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near River Edge NJ?

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

River Edge, New Jersey

River Edge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 11,340,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 394 (+3.6%) from the 10,946 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 343 (+3.2%) from the 10,603 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

The community was originally incorporated as the borough of Riverside by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 30, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On December 1, 1930, the borough's name was changed to River Edge.[21] The borough was formed during the "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, in which 26 boroughs were formed in the county in 1894 alone.[22] The borough was named for its location along the Hackensack River.[23]

According to the United States Census Bureau, River Edge borough had a total area of 1.895 square miles (4.909 km2), including 1.854 square miles (4.802 km2) of land and 0.041 square miles (0.107 km2) of water (2.18%).[1][2]

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near River Edge NJ

River Edge NJ vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in River Edge NJ.