Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Stillwater NJ

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

Stillwater NJ vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Stillwater NJ may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Stillwater NJ

cat with cone after surgery in Stillwater NJ Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Stillwater NJ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions 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 usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Stillwater NJ laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Stillwater

student attending online vet tech school in Stillwater NJ An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Stillwater NJ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school 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 included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Stillwater NJ Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Stillwater NJ vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Stillwater NJ area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Stillwater NJ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New Jersey school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Stillwater NJ veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Stillwater NJ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may 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 teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Stillwater NJ veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded 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 get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Stillwater NJ schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Stillwater NJ home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Stillwater NJ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Stillwater NJ?

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

Stillwater Township, New Jersey

Stillwater Township is a township located in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Kittatinny Valley, Stillwater is a rural farming community with a long history of dairy farming. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 4,099.[7]

Stillwater was settled in the eighteenth century by Palatine German immigrants who entered through the port of Philadelphia. In 1741, Casper Shafer, John George Wintermute (Windemuth), and their father-in-law Johan Peter Bernhardt settled along the Paulins Kill.[19] For the next 50 years, the village of Stillwater was essentially German, centered on a union church shared by Lutheran and German Reformed (Calvinist) congregations.[20] The German population assimilated by the early nineteenth century, but evidence of their settlement remains in the architecture of the grist mills, lime kilns, and stone houses located throughout the valley.[19] Stillwater was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 27, 1824, from portions of Hardwick Township[21][22] when Sussex County was divided in half by the legislature a few weeks earlier to create Warren County.[23][24] Portions of the township were taken to form Fredon Township on February 24, 1904.[21][25]

A prominent structure in the area's history is the Shafer Grist Mill. Originally built by Casper Shafer in 1741, it was moved approximately a half mile to its present location in 1764. It was rebuilt in 1844 and powered by water from the Paulins Kill. Casper's son, Nathan Armstrong Shafer lived in Whitehall Manor, which he built near what is now the center of the village. The gristmill operated commercially until 1955, making it one of the oldest, continuously operating, water-powered gristmills in the State of New Jersey.[citation needed]Aline Murray Kilmer, the widow of poet Joyce Kilmer, lived the last decade of her life at Whitehall, passing away there on October 1, 1941.[28][29]

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Stillwater NJ

Stillwater NJ vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Stillwater NJ.