Vet Technician School
How to Select the Right One Near Casa Grande Arizona

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Casa Grande AZ could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. 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 prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Casa Grande AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 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 work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Casa Grande AZ laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Casa Grande AZ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical 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 option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Casa Grande AZ area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone 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 aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Casa Grande AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Casa Grande AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Casa Grande AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Casa Grande AZ veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Casa Grande AZ programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning 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 College Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Casa Grande AZ home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, 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 especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Casa Grande AZ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Casa Grande

Enroll in the Best Casa Grande Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Casa Grande Arizona.

 

Casa Grande Veterinary Technician Schools | Casa Grande Online Vet Tech Programs