How to Find the Right Vet Assistant Training near Weston Connecticut
Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet program near Weston CT may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing 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 go over the varied duties of vet assistants and techs and the training options offered.
The Function of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Weston CT veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school near Weston CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction 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 may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Weston CT area research facilities also.
Veterinarian Online Schools
An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over 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 clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Weston CT veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician or assistant school may be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Tech Training Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian certificate or degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in Connecticut and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the Weston CT veterinary assistant and tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet assistant or tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Weston CT veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Connecticut school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Weston CT veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with area veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local Weston CT veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet technician or assistant school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the Weston CT college has an outstanding 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 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 may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Weston CT colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary assistant classes from work or home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the Weston CT college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the Connecticut veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many 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 later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered near Weston CT before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.
Why Did You Decide to Be a Veterinary Assistant?
When preparing to interview for a veterinary job, it's a good idea to consider questions you might be asked. Among the things that hiring managers typically ask veterinary candidates is "What compelled you to pick veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for being a vet assistant, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, along with a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the strengths you have that make you an excellent vet tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but take down some ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.Enroll in the Right Vet Technologist College near Weston CT
Picking the appropriate vet technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary tech or assistant schools must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Vet assistants, techs and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges 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 choice. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist in Weston CT.
A Little Bit About Weston CT
Weston, Connecticut
Weston is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The population was 10,179 at the 2010 census.[1] The town is served by Route 57 and Route 53, both of which run through the town center. About 19% of the town's workforce commutes to New York City, about 45 miles (72 km) to the southwest.[2]
Like many towns in southwestern Connecticut, Weston is among the most affluent communities in the United States. Data collected in 2011 showed that Weston had the highest median household income in Fairfield County, Connecticut, at US$205,173.[3] In 2011 Connecticut Magazine named Weston as the number one town in Connecticut among towns with populations of 10,000–15,000. The rating considers education, crime, economy, cost and leisure.
Aside from a handful of stores that form the town’s center, Weston has little commercial development and residential development is limited by two-acre zoning.[4] Most of Devil's Den Preserve, a 1,746-acre (707 ha) nature reserve, which gets 40,000 visits a year, is located in the town.
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