How to Select a Vet Tech School near Farmington Connecticut
Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary program near Farmington CT could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training alternatives available.
The Responsibilities of a Vet Assistant and Technician
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Farmington CT veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Farmington CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. 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 job 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Farmington CT area research facilities also.
Vet Online Colleges
An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at an area Farmington CT veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet technician or assistant program may be the ideal option for you.
Things to Ask Vet Assistant and Tech Colleges
By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Connecticut as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the Farmington CT veterinary assistant and technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary assistant or technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Farmington CT veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Farmington CT vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with regional veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local Farmington CT veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet assistant or technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the Farmington CT school has an exceptional reputation within the vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded 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 receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Farmington CT schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of 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 determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from work or home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the Farmington CT college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the Connecticut vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, 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 attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered near Farmington CT prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.
Why Did You Choose to Be a Veterinary Assistant?
When getting ready to interview for a veterinary job, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask veterinary applicants is "What compelled you to decide on veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming a vet assistant, but also what characteristics and talents you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating exclusively to veterinary care, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of strategies about how you want to address them. Because there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an exceptional vet tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down several concepts and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.Enroll in the Best Vet Technician Training Program near Farmington CT
Picking the appropriate veterinary assistant or tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech or assistant schools must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary techs, assistants and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided 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 picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist in Farmington CT.
A Little Bit About Farmington CT
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census.[2] It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel.
Farmington was originally inhabited by the Tunxis Indian tribe. In 1640, a community of English immigrants was established by residents of Hartford, making Farmington the oldest inland settlement west of the Connecticut River and the twelfth oldest communities in the state. Settlers found the area ideal because of its rich soil, location along the floodplain of the Farmington River, and valley geography.
The town and river were given their present names in 1645, which is considered the incorporation year of the town. The town's boundaries were later enlarged several times, making it the largest in the Connecticut Colony. The town was named after Farmington, in England.[3]
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