Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shrewsbury NJ

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury New Jersey

Shrewsbury NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Shrewsbury NJ might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers 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 programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Shrewsbury NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Shrewsbury NJ Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Shrewsbury NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Shrewsbury

student attending online vet tech school in Shrewsbury NJ An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Shrewsbury NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain 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 practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Shrewsbury NJ Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Shrewsbury 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 a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Shrewsbury NJ area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Shrewsbury NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Shrewsbury NJ vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Shrewsbury NJ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Shrewsbury NJ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Shrewsbury NJ schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get 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 methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Shrewsbury NJ home, you must confirm 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 college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shrewsbury NJ. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury NJ?

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

Shrewsbury, New Jersey

Shrewsbury is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 3,809,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 219 (+6.1%) from the 3,590 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 494 (+16.0%) from the 3,096 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

Shrewsbury was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1926, from portions of Shrewsbury Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 11, 1926.[21] The borough's name comes from Shrewsbury, England.[22]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Shrewsbury borough had a total area of 2.200 square miles (5.697 km2), including 2.168 square miles (5.614 km2) of land and 0.032 square miles (0.083 km2) of water (1.45%).[1][2]

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury NJ

Shrewsbury NJ vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Shrewsbury NJ.