Veterinary Technician Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Scottsdale Arizona

Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Scottsdale AZ might at first seem like a challenging endeavor. 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. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Scottsdale AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. 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 undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary 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 accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Scottsdale AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Scottsdale AZ area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Scottsdale AZ area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking 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 targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Scottsdale AZ veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Scottsdale AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Scottsdale AZ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 larger sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Scottsdale AZ programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Scottsdale AZ home, you must make sure that the driving 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, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Scottsdale AZ. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Scottsdale

Chosse the Best Scottsdale Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scottsdale Arizona.

 

Scottsdale Veterinary Technician Schools | Scottsdale Online Vet Tech Programs