Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Best One Near Anchorage Alaska

Finding a veterinary technician school near Anchorage AK to achieve your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Anchorage AK veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Anchorage AK labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Anchorage AK area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school 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 vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Anchorage AK area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Anchorage AK veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Anchorage AK veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Anchorage AK veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Anchorage AK programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously 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 your Anchorage AK 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, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Anchorage AK. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Anchorage

Chosse the Right Anchorage Vet Technologist College

Picking the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities 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 outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Anchorage Alaska.

 

Anchorage Vet Tech Colleges | Anchorage Veterinary Technician Schools