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Vet Technician Program
How to Pick the Right One Near New River Arizona

New River Arizona dog with big ears with cone on headFinding a veterinary technician school near New River AZ to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and care for animals might from the start seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Education Options

New River Arizona vet checking dog's blood pressure

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the New River AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
  • Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

New River Arizona woman taking vet tech classes onlineAn alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local New River AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

New River Arizona cat in portable kennel in vet hospitalAt this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the New River AZ area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many New River AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some New River AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with New River AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the New River AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New River AZ programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your New River AZ home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near New River AZ. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in New River

Enroll in the Best New River Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in New River Arizona.



 

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