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Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Maricopa Arizona

Maricopa Arizona dog with large ears with cone on headChoosing a veterinary technician school near Maricopa AZ to achieve your heartfelt desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Technician Training Options

Maricopa Arizona veterinarian checking dog's blood pressure

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Maricopa AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Maricopa AZ labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available

Maricopa Arizona female student enrolled in vet tech courses onlineAn approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Maricopa AZ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

Maricopa Arizona cat in carrier in veterinary hospitalBy now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Maricopa AZ area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Maricopa AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Maricopa AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Maricopa AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Maricopa AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Maricopa AZ colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Maricopa 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 college is located close by or within 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 increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Maricopa AZ. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Maricopa

Enroll in the Right Maricopa Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Maricopa Arizona.



 

Maricopa Veterinary Technician Schools | Maricopa Online Vet Tech Programs