Vet Technician Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Fairbanks Alaska

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Fairbanks AK to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Fairbanks AK veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain 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 general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows 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 Fairbanks AK veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fairbanks AK area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Fairbanks AK area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking 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 recommendation, contact some Fairbanks AK vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Fairbanks AK veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Fairbanks AK vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might 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 bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fairbanks AK programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Fairbanks AK home, you have to make certain that the driving 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 school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fairbanks AK. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Fairbanks

Chosse the Best Fairbanks Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 decision. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fairbanks Alaska.

 

Fairbanks Veterinary Technician Schools | Fairbanks Online Vet Tech Programs