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Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Anthem Arizona

Anthem Arizona dog with big ears wearing coneRealizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Anthem AZ might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Anthem Arizona vet checking dog's blood pressure

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 decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Anthem AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. 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 complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. 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 work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may 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  Anthem AZ laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

Anthem Arizona woman taking vet tech classes onlineAn approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Anthem AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

Anthem Arizona cat in portable kennel in vet clinicBy 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 a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Anthem AZ area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Anthem AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Anthem AZ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Anthem AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Anthem AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Anthem AZ programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Anthem AZ home, you need to make sure 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 school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Anthem AZ. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Anthem

Enroll in the Right Anthem Vet Technologist College

Choosing the right vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Anthem Arizona.



 

Anthem Veterinary Technician Schools | Anthem Online Vet Tech Programs