Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools South River NJ

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near South River New Jersey

South River NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near South River NJ might initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in South River NJ

cat with cone after surgery in South River NJ Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the South River NJ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared 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 equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher 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 licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in South River

student attending online vet tech school in South River NJ An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local South River NJ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask South River NJ Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask South River NJ vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the South River NJ area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will get a quality 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 programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of South River NJ area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, call some South River NJ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with South River NJ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the South River NJ veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South River NJ schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some 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 find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your South River NJ home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 South River NJ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near South River NJ?

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

South River, New Jersey

South River is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 16,008,[9][10][11] reflecting an increase of 686 (+4.5%) from the 15,322 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,630 (+11.9%) from the 13,692 counted in the 1990 Census.[20]

What is now South River was originally formed as the town of Washington within East Brunswick Township on February 23, 1870. South River was incorporated as an independent borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1898, replacing Washington town.[21][22] It was named after the South River, which marks the borough's eastern and northeastern boundary.[23][24]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.918 square miles (7.557 km2), including 2.769 square miles (7.171 km2) of land and 0.149 square miles (0.385 km2) of water (5.10%).[1][2]

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near South River NJ

South River NJ vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in South River NJ.