Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Right One Near Chandler Arizona

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Chandler AZ could initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might 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 techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Chandler AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two 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 basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Chandler AZ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm 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 complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Chandler AZ area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select 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 gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Chandler AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Chandler AZ vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Chandler AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Chandler AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Chandler AZ programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Chandler AZ home, you need to make certain that the driving 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

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

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Chandler

Enroll in the Right Chandler Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Chandler Arizona.

 

Chandler Vet Tech Programs | Chandler How To Become A Vet Tech