Tag Archives: Veterinary Technician Requirements North Stonington CT 06359

Vet Tech Schools near North Stonington CT 06359

How to Pick a Vet Assistant Program near North Stonington Connecticut

North Stonington CT vet tech holding dog during examRealizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary college near North Stonington CT may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors 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 evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary assistants and techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Assistant and Tech

North Stonington CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyOne of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization 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 while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the North Stonington CT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near North Stonington CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a two 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required 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 urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or North Stonington CT area research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Training Programs

attending vet tech school online in North Stonington CTAn alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area North Stonington CT veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional 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 classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet technician or assistant program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Tech Training Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in North Stonington CTBy now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in Connecticut and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the North Stonington CT veterinary technician and assistant schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech or assistant school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 a demanding review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many North Stonington CT vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some North Stonington CT veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet technician or assistant is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local North Stonington CT veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician or assistant program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the North Stonington CT school has an excellent reputation within the vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the North Stonington CT colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers 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 make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet technician classes from home or work, you have 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the North Stonington CT school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it’s important that you determine if the Connecticut vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered near North Stonington CT before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Veterinary Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a veterinary position, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. Among the questions that recruiters frequently ask veterinary applicants is "What made you pick veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being a vet assistant, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to organize some strategies about how you want to respond to them. Since there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional vet tech and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but write down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technologist Degree Program near North Stonington CT

Choosing the ideal veterinary assistant or tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet assistant or tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Vet assistants, techs and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet technician, assistant or technologist in North Stonington CT.

A Little Bit About North Stonington CT

Stonington, Connecticut

The town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, United States, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, and the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic (the other halves being in the town of Groton). The population of the town was 18,545 at the 2010 census.[1]

The first European colonists established a trading house in the Pawcatuck section of town in 1649. The present territory of Stonington was part of lands that had belonged to the Pequot people, who referred to the areas making up Stonington as Pawcatuck (Stony Brook to the Pawcatuck River) and Mistack (Mystic River to Stony Brook). It was named "Souther Towne" or Southerton by Massachusetts in 1658, and officially became part of Connecticut in 1662 when Connecticut received its royal charter. Southerton was renamed "Mistick" in 1665[2]:26 and again renamed Stonington in 1666.[2]:36Thomas Miner, Walter Palmer, William Chesebrough, and Thomas Stanton were the founders. The town of North Stonington was set off as a parish from Stonington in 1724 and incorporated as a town in 1807.

Stonington first gained wealth in the 1790s when its harbor was home to a fleet engaged in the profitable sealing trade in which seals were hunted on islands off the Chilean and Patagonian coasts, and their skins were sold as fur in China.[3]

 

 

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