Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Best One Near Glendale Arizona

Finding a veterinary technician school near Glendale AZ to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start feel like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Glendale AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Glendale AZ area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Glendale AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Glendale AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Glendale AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Glendale AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Glendale AZ colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding 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 covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Glendale AZ home, you need to make sure 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. In addition, 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 state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Glendale AZ. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Glendale

Enroll in the Best Glendale Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Glendale Arizona.

 

Glendale Vet Tech Colleges | Glendale Veterinary Technician Schools