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Vet Tech Training Programs
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Vet Technician College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Lake Havasu City Arizona

Lake Havasu City Arizona dog with big ears wearing coneChoosing a veterinary technician school near Lake Havasu City AZ to achieve your heartfelt goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Lake Havasu City Arizona vet monitoring dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Lake Havasu City AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the only real difference 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Lake Havasu City AZ laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

Lake Havasu City Arizona cat in carrier in vet clinicAt this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lake Havasu City AZ area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Lake Havasu City AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet 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 grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Lake Havasu City AZ vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Lake Havasu City AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lake Havasu City AZ vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lake Havasu City AZ programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lake Havasu City AZ home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lake Havasu City AZ. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Lake Havasu City

Enroll in the Best Lake Havasu City Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 decision. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lake Havasu City Arizona.



 

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