Vet Technician College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Prescott Arizona

Finding a veterinary technician school near Prescott AZ to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start feel like an enormous task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Prescott AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An 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 made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Prescott 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 expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Prescott AZ area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed 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, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of 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 demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Prescott AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Prescott AZ veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Prescott AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check 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 Prescott AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean 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 larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Prescott AZ programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Prescott AZ home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Prescott AZ. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Prescott

Enroll in the Best Prescott Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, 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 goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Prescott Arizona.

 

Prescott Veterinary Technician Schools | Prescott Online Vet Tech Programs