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Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Marana Arizona

Marana Arizona dog with big ears wearing coneFinding a veterinary technician school near Marana AZ to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Marana Arizona veterinarian checking dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, 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 although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Marana AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion 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 veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

Marana Arizona cat in carrier in vet clinicBy now you should have determined 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 Marana AZ area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Marana AZ area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating 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 infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Marana AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Marana AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Marana AZ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Marana AZ colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Marana AZ home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Marana AZ. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Marana

Chosse the Best Marana Vet Technologist College

Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Marana Arizona.



 

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