Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Gilbert Arizona

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Gilbert AZ might initially feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. When they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs 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 have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Gilbert AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Gilbert AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Gilbert AZ area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Gilbert AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Gilbert AZ vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Gilbert AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Gilbert AZ veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well 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 receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Gilbert AZ colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Gilbert AZ home, you have to make certain that the driving 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, especially if the school is located close by or within a large 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 charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough 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 Gilbert AZ. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Gilbert

Enroll in the Right Gilbert Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Gilbert Arizona.

 

Gilbert Veterinary Technician Schools | Gilbert Online Vet Tech Programs