Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Somerville NJ

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Somerville New Jersey

Somerville NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Somerville NJ might initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at 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 discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Somerville NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Somerville NJ One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Somerville NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Somerville

student attending online vet tech school in Somerville NJ An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Somerville NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Somerville NJ Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Somerville NJ vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Somerville NJ area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college 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 programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Somerville NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Somerville NJ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Somerville NJ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Somerville 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 Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Somerville 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 instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds 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 make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Somerville NJ home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Somerville NJ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Somerville NJ?

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

Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville is a borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 12,098,[8][9][10] reflecting a decline of 325 (-2.6%) from the 12,423 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 791 (+6.8%) from the 11,632 counted in the 1990 Census.[19] It is the county seat of Somerset County.[20]

Somerville was originally formed as a town on March 25, 1863, within a portion of Bridgewater Township. Somerville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 16, 1909, based on the results of a referendum held on May 4, 1909, at which point it was fully set off from Bridgewater Township.[21][22] It is home of the oldest competitive bicycle race in the United States.

Somerville was settled in colonial times primarily by the Dutch who purchased land from the English proprietors of the colony. The Dutch established their church near what is today Somerville and a Dutch Reformed minister or Domine lived at the Old Dutch Parsonage from about 1754. The early village grew up around a church, courthouse and a tavern built at a crossroads shortly after the American Revolution. The name "Somerville" was taken from four brothers of the Somerville family, William, Edward, John and James from Drishane and Castlehaven, County Cork, Ireland, who first founded the town in the 1750s. Somerville was originally a sparsely populated farming community, but rapidly grew after the completion of the railroad in the 1840s and development of water power along the Raritan River in the 1850s. Early industry included brick making from the plentiful red clay and shale on which Somerville is built. While much of the borough features distinctive Victorian architecture in several neighborhoods and along its Main Street, other periods are represented. National Register sites in Somerville include the white marble 1909 Somerville Court House and the wooden and stone colonial Wallace House (today a museum) where George Washington spent a winter during the American Revolutionary War. Near the Wallace House is the Old Dutch Parsonage, where Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, a founder and first president of Rutgers University, then called Queens College, lived. Register listed Victorian structures include the James Harper Smith Estate (privately owned), St. John's Episcopal Church and rectory, and the Fire Museum (a vintage fire house). Other notable, register eligible structures are the Victorian train station (privately owned) and the municipal building, the former Robert Mansion.[25]

Pick the Best Vet Tech Program near Somerville NJ

Somerville NJ vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included 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 choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Somerville NJ.