Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Mesa Arizona
Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Mesa AZ may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
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Vet Tech Education Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may 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 interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Mesa AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties 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 in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Mesa AZ labs or research facilities as well.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available
An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Mesa AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. 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 vet tech program may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Mesa AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help 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 important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Mesa AZ area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Mesa AZ veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Mesa AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Mesa AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big 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 Mesa AZ schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Mesa AZ home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with 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 campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mesa AZ. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Mesa
Enroll in the Best Mesa Vet Technologist School
Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Mesa Arizona.