Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Scottsdale Arizona

Finding a veterinary technician school near Scottsdale AZ to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and care for animals may initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Scottsdale AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Scottsdale AZ area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous 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 schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Scottsdale AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must 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 placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Scottsdale AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Scottsdale AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian 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 program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Scottsdale AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Scottsdale AZ programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Scottsdale AZ home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a larger 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 higher tuition fees particularly for state and community 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.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at 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 at night near Scottsdale AZ. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Scottsdale

Chosse the Best Scottsdale Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scottsdale Arizona.

 

Scottsdale Vet Tech Colleges | Scottsdale Veterinary Technician Schools