How to Choose a Veterinary Technician College near Higley Arizona
Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinarian school near Higley AZ may initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training alternatives available.
The Role of a Veterinary Assistant and Tech
Among 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 decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Higley AZ veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college near Higley AZ. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Higley AZ area research facilities as well.
Online Vet Training Programs
An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Higley AZ veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech or assistant program may be the perfect choice for you.
What to Ask Vet Assistant and Technologist Schools
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian certificate or degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in Arizona and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the Higley AZ vet assistant and tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary assistant or tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Higley AZ veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Higley AZ vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech or assistant is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with regional veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local Higley AZ veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet technician or assistant college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the Higley AZ program has an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Higley AZ colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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 School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from work or home, you need to confirm 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 Higley AZ college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the Arizona vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered near Higley AZ prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.
Why Did You Want to Be a Veterinary Technician?
When preparing to interview for a veterinary job, it's helpful to consider questions you may be asked. Among the questions that recruiters typically ask veterinary prospects is "What drove you to pick veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming a vet assistant, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating primarily to veterinary care, along with a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to prepare some ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the strengths you have that make you an exceptional vet tech and the best candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Assistant College near Higley AZ
Picking the ideal vet assistant or tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet assistant or tech schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. Vet techs, assistants and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support 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 vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices 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 Higley AZ.
A Little Bit About Higley AZ
Higley Unified School District
The Higley Unified School District #60, abbreviated HUSD #60 is a school district in Gilbert, Arizona.[1] The school district serves portions of Gilbert and Queen Creek. It is one of Arizona's fastest growing school districts, with modest continued growth despite the downturn in the economy at the end of the 2000s (decade). The District owns eight elementary schools and two high schools. In August 2013, the district opened two new middle schools and all other elementary schools that hosted grades K-8 went down to K-6.
The Higley district was incorporated in 1909 with a territory far larger than its current size, but most of the land was transferred to other Valley school districts over the years. For instance, the Queen Creek Unified School District was carved out of the Higley district in 1947.[2]Higley Elementary School was the only school in the district for the next 53 years. The district's high school students went to Gilbert Public Schools' high schools. As the Valley expanded, Larry Likes, then-superintendent of the district, brought it through an era of suburbia swallowing the local farmland. It was not long before the growth of the 1990s and 2000s caught up to the district's 24-square-mile (62 km2) service area. In 1999, the district legally unified; in 2000, it opened Coronado Elementary School, its first new school in decades; in 2001, Higley High School opened its doors; four years later, it opened up Gateway Pointe Elementary School, then a year later, it opened Cortina Elementary School; another year later, further growth induced the opening of Williams Field High School. In the spring of 2008, Higley became the first district in Arizona to receive K-12 accreditation by the AdvancED/North Central Accreditation Team. Graduating Higley seniors were offered $2.7 million in academic and athletic scholarships.[3]
The district opened two middle schools (Cooley Middle School and Sossaman Middle School) to better prepare 7th and 8th grade students for high school and to alleviate projected capacity issues at its elementary schools.
More Cities of Interest in Arizona