Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Tempe Arizona

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Tempe AZ could initially seem like a daunting task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Tempe AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician 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 required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Tempe AZ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Tempe AZ area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Tempe AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Tempe AZ veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Tempe AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Tempe AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate 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 may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Tempe AZ programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Tempe AZ home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Tempe AZ. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Tempe

Enroll in the Best Tempe Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Tempe Arizona.

 

Tempe Veterinary Technician Schools | Tempe Online Vet Tech Programs