Home >> Arizona >> Drexel Heights >> How To Become A Vet Tech


Vet Tech Colleges
Get Free Info - Drexel Heights AZ 85746

Vet Technician Training
How to Find the Right One Near Drexel Heights Arizona

Drexel Heights Arizona dog with big ears with cone on headFinding a veterinary technician school near Drexel Heights AZ to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Drexel Heights Arizona veterinarian checking dog's blood pressure

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Drexel Heights AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Drexel Heights AZ laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

Drexel Heights Arizona cat in carrier in veterinary clinicBy now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Drexel Heights AZ area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Drexel Heights AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Drexel Heights AZ veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Drexel Heights AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Drexel Heights AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Drexel Heights AZ programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Drexel Heights AZ home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Drexel Heights AZ. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Drexel Heights

Chosse the Right Drexel Heights Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Drexel Heights Arizona.



 

Drexel Heights Vet Tech Colleges | Drexel Heights Veterinary Technician Schools