How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Training in Idaho
Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet college in Idaho might at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training options offered.
The Job of a Veterinary Technician and Assistant
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely 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 practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Idaho veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school in Idaho. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually 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 opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Idaho research facilities as well.
Online Veterinarian Training Programs
An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area Idaho veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech or assistant program may be the right choice for you.
Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Technician Training Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential 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, technical and vocational schools in Idaho and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet technician and assistant schools that you are reveiwing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary assistant or tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Idaho veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Idaho school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, call some veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with regional veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local Idaho vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech or assistant school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the Idaho school has an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly 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 sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Idaho schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet assistant classes from work or home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 Idaho school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the Idaho vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.
Select the Ideal Veterinary Tech College in Idaho
Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary tech or assistant colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Vet assistants, techs and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 choice. And by picking the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet technician, assistant or technologist.