Veterinary Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near San Tan Valley Arizona

Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near San Tan Valley AZ may initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. When they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the San Tan Valley AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Tan Valley AZ labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An approach 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 training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Tan Valley AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes 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 vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Tan Valley AZ area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of San Tan Valley AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some San Tan Valley AZ veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with San Tan Valley 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 invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging 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 suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the San Tan Valley AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Tan Valley AZ programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Tan Valley AZ home, you need to confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt 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. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating 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 San Tan Valley AZ. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in San Tan Valley

Chosse the Right San Tan Valley Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Tan Valley Arizona.

 

San Tan Valley Veterinary Technician Schools | San Tan Valley Online Vet Tech Programs