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Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Scottsdale Arizona

Scottsdale Arizona dog with big ears wearing coneFinding a veterinary technician school near Scottsdale AZ to fulfill your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

Scottsdale Arizona vet checking dog's blood pressure

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Scottsdale AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible 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  Scottsdale AZ labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

Scottsdale Arizona cat in portable kennel in veterinary clinicAt this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Scottsdale AZ area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded 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 receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Scottsdale AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Scottsdale AZ veterinarians 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 schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Scottsdale AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Scottsdale AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Scottsdale AZ schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Scottsdale AZ home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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 school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course 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 important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Scottsdale AZ. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Scottsdale

Enroll in the Right Scottsdale Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly 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 outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Scottsdale Arizona.



 

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