Vet Tech Schools near East Hartford CT 06108

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near East Hartford Connecticut

East Hartford CT vet tech holding dog during examRealizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet college near East Hartford CT may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary assistants and techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Technician and Assistant

East Hartford CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyAmong the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the East Hartford CT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near East Hartford CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or East Hartford CT area research facilities also.

Veterinarian Online Training Programs

attending vet tech school online in East Hartford CTAn option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at an area East Hartford CT veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician or assistant school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technologist Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in East Hartford CTAt this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer 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 USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the East Hartford CT veterinary technician and assistant programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It’s important that you verify that the vet technician or assistant program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of East Hartford CT vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on 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 grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some East Hartford CT veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet technician or assistant is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with area veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local East Hartford CT veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary tech or assistant college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the East Hartford CT school has an excellent reputation within the vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the East Hartford CT programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from home or work, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the East Hartford CT school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s essential that you determine if the Connecticut vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available near East Hartford CT prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Why Did You Want to Become a Veterinary Assistant?

When preparing to interview for a veterinary position, it's helpful to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask veterinary candidates is "What drove you to pick veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming a veterinary technician, but also what qualities and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to veterinary care, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to organize several strategies about how you want to respond to them. Since there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding vet tech and the leading candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down several ideas and anecdotes that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Best Vet Assistant Program near East Hartford CT

Enrolling in the right vet technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary assistant or tech colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary techs, assistants and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist in East Hartford CT.

A Little Bit About East Hartford CT

East Hartford, Connecticut

East Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.[1]

The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, directly across from Hartford, Connecticut. The town includes the neighborhoods of Burnside and Hockanum. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.5 km2), of which 18.0 square miles (46.6 km2) is land and 0.73 square miles (1.9 km2), or 3.93%, is water.[1]

When the Connecticut Valley became known to Europeans around 1631, it was inhabited by what were known as the River Tribes — a number of small clans of Native Americans living along the Great River and its tributaries. Of these tribes the Podunks occupied territory now lying in the towns of East Hartford and South Windsor, and numbered, by differing estimates, from sixty to two hundred bowmen. They were governed by two sachems, Waginacut and Arramamet, and were connected in some way with the Native Americans who lived across the Great River, in what is now Windsor. The region north of the Hockanum River was generally called Podunk; that south of the river, Hockanum; but these were no certain designations, and by some all the meadow along the Great River was called Hockanum.[2]

 

 

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