Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Tempe AZ may at first feel like a daunting task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally 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 all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.
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Vet Tech Education Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Tempe AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally 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 urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Tempe AZ laboratories or research facilities also.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered
An option that might be a solution for those with a busy 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 through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Tempe AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Tempe AZ area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Tempe AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Tempe AZ vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Tempe AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can 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 signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Tempe AZ veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Tempe AZ colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Tempe AZ home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Tempe AZ. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Tempe
Enroll in the Best Tempe Vet Technologist Program
Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing 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 veterinary technician in Tempe Arizona.