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Veterinary Technician Training
How to Pick the Best One Near Juneau Alaska

Juneau Alaska dog with big ears with cone on headChoosing a veterinary technician school near Juneau AK to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and care for animals may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Juneau Alaska vet checking dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Juneau AK veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Juneau AK laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

Juneau Alaska female student taking vet tech courses onlineAn alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Juneau AK veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

Juneau Alaska cat in portable kennel in vet clinicBy now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Juneau AK area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade 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 necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Juneau AK area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Juneau AK veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Juneau AK veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Juneau AK vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Juneau AK programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Juneau AK home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Juneau AK. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Juneau

Enroll in the Best Juneau Vet Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided 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 ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Juneau Alaska.



 

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