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Vet Tech Schools near Tempe AZ 85280

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Tempe Arizona

Tempe AZ vet tech holding dog during examRealizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinarian school near Tempe AZ might at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet techs and assistants and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Technician and Assistant

Tempe AZ vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyAmong the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Tempe AZ veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college near Tempe AZ. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
  • Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
  • Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Online Training Programs

attending vet tech school online in Tempe AZAn alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Tempe AZ veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech or assistant program may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Training Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Tempe AZBy now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Arizona as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the Tempe AZ vet assistant and tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary assistant or technician program you enroll in 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Tempe AZ veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Tempe AZ vet 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 colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet technician or assistant is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with local veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local Tempe AZ veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech or assistant college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy 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 indicate that the Tempe AZ program has an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Tempe AZ colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary assistant classes from home or work, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the Tempe AZ college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it’s important that you determine if the Arizona veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available near Tempe AZ before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Veterinary Assistant?

When prepping to interview for a veterinary job, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask veterinary candidates is "What made you pick veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for being a veterinary technician, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must organize several approaches about how you would like to address them. Since there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional vet tech and the best choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Tech Degree Program near Tempe AZ

Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech or assistant colleges need to make their decision based on several key factors. Vet assistants, techs and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist in Tempe AZ.

A Little Bit About Tempe AZ

Tempe, Arizona

Tempe (/tɛmˈpiː/ TEM'-pee;[4]Oidbaḍ in Pima), also known as Hayden's Ferry during the territorial times of Arizona, is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719.[2] The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Chandler on the south, and Mesa on the east. Tempe is also the location of the main campus of Arizona State University.

The Hohokam lived in this area and built canals to support their agriculture. They abandoned their settlements during the 15th century, with a few individuals and families remaining nearby.

Fort McDowell was established approximately 25 mi (40 km) northeast of present downtown Tempe on the upper Salt River in 1865 allowing for new towns to be built farther down the Salt River. US military service members and Hispanic workers were hired to grow food and animal feed to supply the fort, and less than a year later, had set up small camps near the river that were the first permanent communities in the Valley after the fall of the Hohokam. (Phoenix was settled shortly afterward, by 1867–68.) The two settlements were 'Hayden's Ferry', named after a ferry service operated by Charles T. Hayden, and 'San Pablo', and were located west and east of Hayden Butte respectively. The ferry became the key river crossing in the area. The Tempe Irrigating Canal Company was soon established by William Kirkland and James McKinney to provide water for alfalfa, wheat, barley, oats, and cotton.

 

 

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