Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Green Valley Arizona

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Green Valley AZ to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and care for animals may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Green Valley AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions 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 vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Green Valley AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, 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 Green Valley AZ area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Green Valley AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Green Valley AZ vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get practical 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 arranged with Green Valley AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Green Valley AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Green Valley AZ colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Green Valley 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Green Valley AZ. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Green Valley

Chosse the Right Green Valley Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Green Valley Arizona.

 

Green Valley Veterinary Technician Schools | Green Valley Online Vet Tech Programs