Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Chandler Arizona

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Chandler AZ to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for animals might from the start seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Chandler AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Chandler AZ area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to 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 significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of 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 screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Chandler AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Chandler AZ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Chandler AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Chandler AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Chandler AZ schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Chandler AZ home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out 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 choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough 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 Chandler AZ. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Chandler

Enroll in the Right Chandler Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Chandler Arizona.

 

Chandler Vet Tech Colleges | Chandler Veterinary Technician Schools