Veterinary Technician Training
How to Pick the Right One Near Gilbert Arizona

Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Gilbert AZ might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are examining. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Tech Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Gilbert AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive 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 option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Gilbert AZ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Gilbert AZ area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Gilbert AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Gilbert AZ vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Gilbert AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Gilbert AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Gilbert AZ programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Gilbert AZ home, you need to make sure 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide 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. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Gilbert AZ. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Gilbert

Chosse the Right Gilbert Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Gilbert Arizona.

 

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