Veterinary Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Tempe AZ may at first feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
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Vet Tech Education Options
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Tempe AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Tempe AZ laboratories or research facilities also.
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Tempe AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying 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 mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Tempe AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions 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 grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Tempe AZ veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Tempe AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers 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 placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Tempe AZ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of 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 one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Tempe AZ programs 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 evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Tempe AZ home, you need to confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large 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 taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at 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. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.
Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Tempe
Enroll in the Right Tempe Vet Technologist College
Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Tempe Arizona.