Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Tempe Arizona
Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Tempe AZ might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians 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 need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Tempe AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire 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 function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may acquire 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 Colleges
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Tempe AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Tempe AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Tempe AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Tempe AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Tempe AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may 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 sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Tempe AZ schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Tempe AZ home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.
Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Tempe
Enroll in the Right Tempe Vet Technologist Program
Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Tempe Arizona.