Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pittsfield VT

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Pittsfield Vermont

Pittsfield VT vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Pittsfield VT might at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into 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 a final decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Pittsfield VT

cat with cone after surgery in Pittsfield VT One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Pittsfield VT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Pittsfield VT laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Pittsfield

student attending online vet tech school in Pittsfield VT An option that may make sense for those with a busy 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 over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Pittsfield VT veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Pittsfield VT Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Pittsfield VT vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Pittsfield VT area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Pittsfield VT area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Vermont school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Pittsfield VT veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Pittsfield VT veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Pittsfield VT veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pittsfield VT programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Pittsfield VT home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pittsfield VT. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pittsfield VT?

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

Pittsfield, Vermont

Granted on November 8, 1780, the town was chartered on July 29, 1781, to Samuel Wilcox and 129 others. Pittsfield was named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which itself had been named in honor of William Pitt. It was first settled in 1786. The town proved suitable for grazing livestock because of its mountainous terrain.[4] Indeed, in the 19th-century, humorists attributed the invention of the one-legged milking stool to Pittsfield, "...as a means of conquering a stern difficulty."[5]

The Farmhouse pictured in this 1915 Postcard to the left still stands and was converted in 1960 to The Fleur De Lis Lodge, for travelers and skiers to stay. Six rooms remain in the original farmhouse, while seven more rooms were added to the new section above the great room.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2), all land. Set among the Green Mountains, Pittsfield is drained by the Tweed River, a tributary of the White River.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Pittsfield VT

Pittsfield VT vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pittsfield VT.