Vet Technician Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Tucson Arizona
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Tucson AZ to fulfill your passionate goal to help and care for animals may from the start seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.
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Vet Technician Training Options
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can carry out within the Tucson AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Tucson AZ laboratories or research facilities also.
Online Vet Tech Programs Available
An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Tucson AZ veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Tucson AZ area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Tucson AZ area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies 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 tip, contact some Tucson AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Tucson AZ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet 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 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 considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Tucson AZ veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Tucson AZ schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Tucson AZ home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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 campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Tucson AZ. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.
Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Tucson
Enroll in the Best Tucson Vet Technologist College
Picking the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Tucson Arizona.