How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Chester Connecticut
Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet college near Chester CT may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary assistants and techs and the training alternatives available.
The Role of a Vet Technician and Assistant
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet 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 training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Chester CT veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college near Chester CT. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four 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 options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Chester CT area research facilities as well.
Veterinarian Online Programs
An option that might be a solution 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 made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area Chester CT veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 manner, an online vet tech or assistant program may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Training Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinary certificate or degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in Connecticut and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the Chester CT vet assistant and technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech or assistant school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Chester CT veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with 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, call some Chester CT veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet assistant or technician is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with local veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local Chester CT veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding 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 low rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the Chester CT school has an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Chester CT schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding 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 School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary tech classes from work or home, you have to confirm 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 Chester CT college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking 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 important that you ascertain if the Connecticut vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available near Chester CT before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.
Why Did You Choose to Become a Vet Technician?
When prepping to interview for a veterinary position, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. One of the things that hiring managers often ask veterinary applicants is "What made you decide on veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not just the personal reasons you may have for being a vet assistant, but also what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to veterinary care, along with a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to organize several ideas about how you would like to address them. Because there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an excellent vet tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but write down some concepts and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.Select the Ideal Vet Technologist School near Chester CT
Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet assistant or tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Vet assistants, techs 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 imperative that you select 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 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 veterinary assistant, tech or technologist in Chester CT.
A Little Bit About Chester CT
Chester, Connecticut
Chester is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).
The Wangunks, a river tribe of Native Americans, occupied the land called Pattaconk prior to English settlement of the area in 1692. The town was formed from the northern quarter of Saybrook and incorporated in 1836. Back in 1769, Jonathan Warner was granted permission to operate a ferry across the Connecticut River that became the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, the second-oldest continuously operating ferry service in Connecticut. Its location is currently a state historical landmark.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.8 square miles (44 km2), of which, 16.0 square miles (41 km2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of it (4.75%) is water. The CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) of which 1.46% is water.
More Cities of Interest in Connecticut