Home >> Arizona >> Prescott Valley >> Vet Tech Colleges


Vet Tech Degree Programs
Receive Free Information - Prescott Valley AZ 86303

Vet Technician Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Prescott Valley Arizona

Prescott Valley Arizona dog with big ears with cone on headFinding a veterinary technician school near Prescott Valley AZ to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Prescott Valley Arizona veterinarian monitoring dog's blood pressure

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Prescott Valley AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites 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 vet clinic or hospital, 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main 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 potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered

Prescott Valley Arizona woman enrolled in vet tech courses onlineAn option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Prescott Valley AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

Prescott Valley Arizona cat in portable kennel in veterinary hospitalAt this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Prescott Valley AZ area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Prescott Valley AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Prescott Valley AZ veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Prescott Valley AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Prescott Valley AZ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Prescott Valley AZ colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Prescott Valley AZ home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Prescott Valley AZ. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Prescott Valley

Chosse the Right Prescott Valley Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Prescott Valley Arizona.



 

Prescott Valley Vet Tech Programs | Prescott Valley How To Become A Vet Tech