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Vet Tech Schools near Oxford CT 06478

How to Choose a Veterinary Assistant Program near Oxford Connecticut

Oxford CT vet tech holding dog during examRealizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary college near Oxford CT might initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of veterinary techs and assistants and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Assistant and Tech

Oxford CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyOne of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Oxford CT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near Oxford CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
  • Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinarian Degree Programs

attending vet tech school online in Oxford CTAn alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Oxford CT veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician or assistant program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Schools

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Oxford CTBy now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Connecticut as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the Oxford CT vet technician and assistant colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary assistant or tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Oxford CT veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Oxford CT vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with area veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local Oxford CT veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech or assistant school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of 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 high placement rate may indicate that the Oxford CT program has an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant 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 placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Oxford CT schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from work or home, you must make certain 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, particularly if the Oxford CT college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the Connecticut veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered near Oxford CT prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Veterinary Assistant?

When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the questions that recruiters often ask veterinary candidates is "What made you decide on veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not just the personal reasons you might have for being a vet tech, but also what qualities and abilities you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to prepare several approaches about how you want to respond to them. Given that there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an excellent vet tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some ideas and topics that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech College near Oxford CT

Selecting the ideal vet technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet assistant or tech programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet technician, assistant or technologist in Oxford CT.

A Little Bit About Oxford CT

Oxford, Connecticut

Oxford is a residential town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,683 at the 2010 Census.[2] Oxford is the 26th-wealthiest town in the state by median household income.[3] Distinct settled areas in the town include Oxford Center, Quaker Farms, and Riverside. Oxford belongs to the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area, a subregion of the New York metropolitan area.

In the 18th century, farmers herded livestock through Oxford from as far away as Litchfield on the way to the port of New Haven. In the 19th century, the town lost population as farmers moved to work in better-paying factories.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.3 km2), of which 32.7 square miles (84.8 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 1.78%, is water.[6]

 

 

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