Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Somers Point NJ

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Somers Point New Jersey

Somers Point NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Somers Point NJ might at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Somers Point NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Somers Point NJ Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Somers Point NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Somers Point NJ labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Somers Point

student attending online vet tech school in Somers Point NJ An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Somers Point NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes 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 veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Somers Point NJ Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Somers Point NJ vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Somers Point NJ area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Somers Point NJ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Somers Point NJ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Somers Point NJ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Somers Point NJ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Somers Point NJ colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Somers Point NJ home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Somers Point NJ. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Somers Point NJ?

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

Somers Point, New Jersey

Somers Point is the oldest settlement in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. It was first settled in 1693, and was incorporated as a borough in 1886. Somers Point was incorporated as a city in 1902. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 10,795,[10][11][12] reflecting a decline of 819 (-7.1%) from the 11,614 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 398 (+3.5%) from the 11,216 counted in the 1990 Census.[21]

John Somers was the first European settler in what is now Somers Point. Somers purchased the land along the northern periphery of the Great Egg Harbor Bay from Thomas Budd in 1693, making it the oldest European settlement in what is now Atlantic County. Great Egg Harbour Township was designated in 1693 from the eastern portions of Gloucester County, which included Somers Point. Somers named the area Somerset Plantation, Somers Ferry, and Somers Plantation, until the name Somers Point became established in 1750. In 1695, John Somers operated the first ferry service across the Great Egg Harbor Bay to Cape May County. His son Richard built Somers Mansion overlooking the harbor sometime between 1720 and 1726, which remains the county's oldest existing home.[22][23][24][25][26] Somers Point was designated as a port of entry in 1791 and remained one until it was abolished in 1915.[27][28] By the 1830s, when Somers Point became part of Atlantic County, it was a popular summer resort with several boarding houses.[29]

Somers Point was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 24, 1886, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held five days earlier.[30] At that time, there were 48 people registered to vote in the borough.[25] Somers Point was reincorporated as a borough on April 2, 1890, based on the previous day's referendum. Somers Point was incorporated as a city on April 9, 1902, from all of Somers Point borough and additional portions of Egg Harbor Township.[30][31] The borough was named for John Somers.[32][33]

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician College near Somers Point NJ

Somers Point NJ vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Somers Point NJ.