Vet Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Prescott Valley Arizona

Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Prescott Valley AZ might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important 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 point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Prescott Valley AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive 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 position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Prescott Valley AZ laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Prescott Valley AZ veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical 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 ideal option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Prescott Valley AZ area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Prescott Valley AZ area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Prescott Valley AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs 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 professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Prescott Valley AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Prescott Valley AZ vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Prescott Valley AZ colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine 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 consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Prescott Valley 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, particularly if the school 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit 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 Prescott Valley AZ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Prescott Valley

Chosse the Best Prescott Valley Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Prescott Valley Arizona.

 

Prescott Valley Veterinary Technician Schools | Prescott Valley Online Vet Tech Programs