Tag Archives: Top Veterinary Technician Schools Thomaston CT 06787

Vet Tech Schools near Thomaston CT 06787

How to Select a Veterinary Assistant College near Thomaston Connecticut

Thomaston CT vet tech holding dog during examAchieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet college near Thomaston CT could at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary assistants and techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Technician and Assistant

Thomaston CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyOne of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Thomaston CT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Thomaston CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent 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 engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinarian Training Classes

attending vet tech school online in Thomaston CTAn approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule 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 practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area Thomaston CT veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician or assistant program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Thomaston CTAt this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in Connecticut as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the Thomaston CT veterinary assistant and technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It’s important that you make sure that the vet assistant or technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Thomaston CT veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Thomaston CT veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local Thomaston CT veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech or assistant school may 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 could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus 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 might mean that the Thomaston CT college has an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Thomaston CT programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet technician classes from home or work, you must make sure that the driving 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 Thomaston CT school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s essential that you determine if the Connecticut vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered near Thomaston CT before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Veterinary Assistant?

When preparing to interview for a veterinary position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask veterinary prospects is "What made you select veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the private reasons you may have for being a veterinary technician, but additionally what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to veterinary care, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you must ready a number of ideas about how you want to address them. Given that there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an exceptional vet tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few ideas and topics that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Ideal Vet Assistant Program near Thomaston CT

Selecting the appropriate vet assistant or tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech or assistant programs must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Vet techs, assistants and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals 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 applies to vet tech online programs 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 selection. And by picking the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet assistant, technician or technologist in Thomaston CT.

A Little Bit About Thomaston CT

Thomaston, Connecticut

Thomaston is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,887 at the 2010 census. The urban center of the town is the Thomaston census-designated place, with a population of 1,910 at the 2010 census.[4]

The town, originally part of Plymouth, Connecticut, and referred to as 'Plymouth Hollow' was first settled by Henry Cook ("the soldier in the wilderness," 1683–1750) around 1728.[5][6] The town is known for clockmaking, which started in 1803, when Eli Terry established a factory in the town. Terry brought mass production to the clockmaking industry, helping to reduce the cost of clocks. He introduced and patented the shelf clock in 1814,[5] which reduced the cost of a clock from $25 to $5. His clocks were sold throughout the US.[5] It was incorporated in its own right and under the name "Thomaston" in 1875.[7] The name derives from Seth Thomas, the early clockmaker, who established a factory in town in 1812.[8][7] The Seth Thomas clock factory building still exists; however, the clockmaking industry has long since left the state as well as the country.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total size of 12.2 square miles (31.7 km²). 12.0 square miles (31.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.

 

 

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