Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Peoria Arizona

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Peoria AZ may initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among 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 predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Peoria 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 veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard 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 almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. 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 complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Peoria AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Peoria AZ area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Peoria AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Peoria AZ veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Peoria AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Peoria AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of 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 may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Peoria AZ schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Peoria AZ home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Peoria AZ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require 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 issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Peoria

Enroll in the Right Peoria Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Peoria Arizona.

 

Peoria Veterinary Technician Schools | Peoria Online Vet Tech Programs