Vet Tech Schools near New Britain CT 06050

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Assistant College near New Britain Connecticut

New Britain CT vet tech holding dog during examFulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary school near New Britain CT could at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school 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 analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different duties of vet techs and assistants and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Assistant and Technician

New Britain CT vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyAmong the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the New Britain CT veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near New Britain CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or New Britain CT area research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Training Classes

attending vet tech school online in New Britain CTAn approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area New Britain CT veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary tech or assistant program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Training Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in New Britain CTBy now you probably have selected which veterinarian certificate or degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in Connecticut as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned 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 example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the New Britain CT vet assistant and tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech or assistant college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of New Britain CT veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers 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 grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some New Britain CT vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with area veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local New Britain CT veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet assistant or tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the New Britain CT school has an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Britain CT programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary tech classes from home or work, you need to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the New Britain CT college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the Connecticut veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered near New Britain CT prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Vet Technician?

When preparing to interview for a veterinary position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you could be asked. Among the questions that recruiters frequently ask veterinary applicants is "What drove you to select veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming a vet tech, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare some ideas about how you would like to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding vet tech and the leading candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down some concepts and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to develop your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Choose the Right Veterinary Tech Degree Program near New Britain CT

Enrolling in the appropriate vet assistant or tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary tech or assistant schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet assistant, technician or technologist in New Britain CT.

A Little Bit About New Britain CT

New Britain, Connecticut

New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Hartford. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 73,206.[1]

Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed within the Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor metropolitan region, New Britain is home to Central Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College.

The city's official nickname is the "Hardware City" because of its history as a manufacturing center and as the headquarters of Stanley Black & Decker. Because of its large Polish population, the city is often playfully referred to as "New Britski."[3]

 

 

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