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Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near Marana Arizona

Marana Arizona dog with big ears with cone on headAchieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Marana AZ might at first feel like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. 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 pertinent qualifications of the programs 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 duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Tech Training Options

Marana Arizona vet monitoring dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Marana AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs 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 obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So 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 potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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  Marana AZ laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

Marana Arizona female student taking vet tech classes onlineAn approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Marana AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

Marana Arizona cat in carrier in veterinary clinicBy now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Marana AZ area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Marana AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Marana AZ veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Marana AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Marana AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Marana AZ colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Marana AZ home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Marana AZ. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Marana

Chosse the Best Marana Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Marana Arizona.



 

Marana Veterinary Technician Schools | Marana Online Vet Tech Programs