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Vet Tech Schools near Shelton CT 06484

How to Select a Vet Tech Training near Shelton Connecticut

Shelton CT vet tech holding dog during examAchieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary school near Shelton CT may initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of veterinary techs and assistants and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech and Assistant

Shelton CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyAmong the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Shelton CT veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college near Shelton CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Shelton CT area research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Courses

attending vet tech school online in Shelton CTAn approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Shelton CT veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary tech or assistant program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Assistant and Technologist Schools

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Shelton CTAt this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in Connecticut and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the Shelton CT vet assistant and technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician or assistant school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Shelton CT veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating 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 violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Shelton CT veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local Shelton CT vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the Shelton CT college has an excellent reputation within the veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Shelton CT schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary assistant classes from work or home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into 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 Shelton CT campus is located close by or within a larger 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 higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the Connecticut veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered near Shelton CT before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Vet Tech?

When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's advantageous to consider questions you could be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask veterinary applicants is "What made you decide on veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming a veterinary technician, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you should ready some approaches about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an exceptional vet tech and the best choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Pick the Best Veterinary Assistant Program near Shelton CT

Selecting the ideal vet technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet assistant or tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Vet techs, assistants and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet assistant, technician or technologist in Shelton CT.

A Little Bit About Shelton CT

Shelton, Connecticut

Shelton is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,559 at the 2010 census.

Shelton was settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1639. On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut in Hartford affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory 12 miles (19 km) inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line. In 1662, Stratford selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor had secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe. Shelton was split off from Stratford in 1789, as Huntington (named for Samuel Huntington).[3][4] The current name originated in a manufacturing village started in the 1860s named for the Shelton Company founded by Edward N. Shelton—also founder of Ousatonic Water Power Company.[5][6][7][8] The rapidly growing borough of Shelton incorporated as a city in 1915 and was consolidated with the town of Huntington in 1919 establishing the present city of Shelton.[9][10]

Shelton was the site of one of the largest arson fires in the United States history. It happened in 1975 when the Sponge Rubber Products plant (formerly owned by B.F. Goodrich) was set on fire. Charles Moeller, president of parent company Grand Sheet Metal Products, was acquitted on arson charges, but in a civil lawsuit, a jury in 1988 ruled the insurer did not have to pay claims on the fire because a preponderance of evidence showed the company's top officials arranged the fire to claim insurance money. Eight others were convicted or pleaded guilty.[11]

 

 

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