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

Finding a veterinary technician school near Scottsdale AZ to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore 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 Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Scottsdale AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Scottsdale AZ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Scottsdale AZ area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. 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 Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Scottsdale AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online 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 complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Scottsdale AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

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

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Scottsdale AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Scottsdale AZ colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered 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 have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, 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, taking classes online 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 veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Scottsdale AZ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Scottsdale

Chosse the Best Scottsdale Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scottsdale Arizona.

 

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