How to Find the Right Vet Tech Training near Danbury Connecticut
Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary program near Danbury CT may initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are evaluating 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 various roles of veterinary assistants and techs and the training alternatives offered.
The Function of a Vet Tech and Assistant
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Danbury CT veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Danbury CT. 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 involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two 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 vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Danbury CT area research facilities as well.
Vet Online Training Classes
An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Danbury CT veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician or assistant school may be the perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Vet Assistant and Tech Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian certificate or degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Connecticut and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the Danbury CT vet assistant and technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician or assistant program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 an extensive screening 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 colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Danbury CT veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Danbury CT veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with area veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local Danbury CT vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician or assistant college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the Danbury CT college has an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Danbury CT schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet technician classes from work or home, you need to 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 Danbury CT school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the Connecticut veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered near Danbury CT prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Why Did You Decide to Become a Veterinary Assistant?
When getting ready to interview for a veterinary job, it's advantageous to consider questions you may be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask veterinary candidates is "What compelled you to choose veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the private reasons you may have for becoming a vet assistant, but also what attributes and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to veterinary care, along with a significant number of routine interview questions, so you should ready some strategies about how you want to address them. Considering there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an excellent vet tech and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down several concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.Enroll in the Right Vet Technician Program near Danbury CT
Choosing the appropriate vet assistant or tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering vet assistant or tech programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Vet assistants, techs and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, tech or technologist in Danbury CT.
A Little Bit About Danbury CT
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Still River approximately 70 miles northeast of New York's city center. Danbury's population at the 2010 census was 80,893.[3] Danbury is the fourth most populous city in Fairfield County, and seventh among Connecticut cities. The city is within the New York combined statistical area and Bridgeport metropolitan area.
The city is named for Danbury in Essex, England, the place of origin of many of its early settlers. It is nicknamed the Hat City because of its prominent history in the hat industry; for a period in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was the center of the American hat industry. The mineral danburite is named for Danbury.
Danbury is home to Danbury Hospital, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury Fair Mall and Danbury Municipal Airport.
More Cities of Interest in Connecticut