Veterinary Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Catalina Foothills Arizona

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Catalina Foothills AZ could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options 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 whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Catalina Foothills AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational 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. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore 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 opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Catalina Foothills AZ labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Catalina Foothills AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Catalina Foothills AZ area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Catalina Foothills AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Catalina Foothills AZ veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Catalina Foothills AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist 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 difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate 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 assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Catalina Foothills AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Catalina Foothills AZ schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Catalina Foothills AZ home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Catalina Foothills AZ. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Catalina Foothills

Enroll in the Best Catalina Foothills Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Catalina Foothills Arizona.

 

Catalina Foothills Vet Tech Schools | Catalina Foothills Vet Tech Schools Online