Vet Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Tempe Arizona

Finding a veterinary technician school near Tempe AZ to achieve your heartfelt goal to work with and care for animals might from the start feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, 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 supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Tempe AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent 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 complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Tempe AZ labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Tempe AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want 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 Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Tempe AZ area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Tempe AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Tempe AZ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Tempe AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Tempe AZ colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. 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 Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Tempe 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 college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Tempe AZ. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Tempe

Enroll in the Best Tempe Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Tempe Arizona.

 

Tempe Vet Tech Colleges | Tempe Veterinary Technician Schools