Veterinary Technician School
How to Pick the Right One Near Rogers Arkansas
Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Rogers AR could at first seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Rogers AR veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally 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 career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Rogers AR labs or research facilities as well.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Rogers AR area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important 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 tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Rogers AR area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arkansas school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Rogers AR vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Rogers AR veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Rogers AR veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Rogers AR colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning 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? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Rogers AR home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, 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. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Rogers AR. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Rogers
Enroll in the Best Rogers Vet Technologist School
Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Rogers Arkansas.