Vet Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near Anchorage Alaska

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Anchorage AK to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and care for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Anchorage AK veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs 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 to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can 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  Anchorage AK labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Anchorage AK veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Anchorage AK area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Anchorage AK area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Anchorage AK vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Anchorage AK veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Anchorage AK veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Anchorage AK colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Anchorage AK home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Anchorage AK. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Anchorage

Chosse the Best Anchorage Vet Technologist School

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Anchorage Alaska.

 

Anchorage Veterinary Technician Schools | Anchorage Online Vet Tech Programs