Vet Technician Program
How to Find the Right One Near Goodyear Arizona

Finding a veterinary technician school near Goodyear AZ to fulfill your heartfelt desire to work with and care for animals may from the start feel like an enormous challenge. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Goodyear AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Goodyear AZ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Goodyear AZ area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Goodyear AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Goodyear AZ vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Goodyear AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach 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 ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Goodyear AZ veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Goodyear AZ schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Goodyear AZ home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Goodyear AZ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Goodyear

Enroll in the Right Goodyear Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech programs 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 duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Goodyear Arizona.

 

Goodyear Veterinary Technician Schools | Goodyear Online Vet Tech Programs