Vet Technician School
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Coolidge Arizona

Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Coolidge AZ could at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Coolidge AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main 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 options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Coolidge AZ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated 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 Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Coolidge AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Coolidge AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Coolidge AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Coolidge AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Coolidge AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial 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 a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Coolidge AZ programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Coolidge AZ home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, 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 particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Coolidge AZ. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Coolidge

Enroll in the Best Coolidge Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when 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 vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Coolidge Arizona.

 

Coolidge Veterinary Technician Schools | Coolidge Online Vet Tech Programs