Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lake Stevens WA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Lake Stevens Washington

Lake Stevens WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Lake Stevens WA may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Lake Stevens WA

cat with cone after surgery in Lake Stevens WA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can carry out within the Lake Stevens WA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet 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 involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lake Stevens WA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Lake Stevens

student attending online vet tech school in Lake Stevens WA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school 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 available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lake Stevens WA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Lake Stevens WA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Lake Stevens WA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lake Stevens WA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Lake Stevens WA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Lake Stevens WA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Lake Stevens WA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Lake Stevens WA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Lake Stevens WA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide 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, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, 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 technician classes from your Lake Stevens WA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges 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 necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lake Stevens WA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lake Stevens WA?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Lake Stevens Washington area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Lake Stevens, Washington

Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States named after the lake that it is built around.[4] It is southeast of Marysville, north of the city of Snohomish, and east of Everett. The population was 31,679 as of 2016 according to United States Census Bureau estimates, with much of the growth due to annexation.

Believed to be named after Governor Isaac I. Stevens, the shores of Lake Stevens were first settled in 1886, on a 160-acre (0.65 km2) homestead along the east shore. By 1890 the first town in the area, "Ferry", was established. Its name was later changed to "Hartford", and it served as the main link from the famed Monte Cristo timber and mining resources to the world.

In 1905 a railroad spur was built by the Rucker Brothers Timber Company, linking Hartford with Lake Stevens. Two years later Rucker Mill was opened, located along and in the north cove of the lake (original pilings can still be seen in the old lake outflow area just south of the boat launch). In 1919, the mill, which became known as the "world's largest sawmill", burned and was partially rebuilt. When it burned a second time in 1925 the mill was dismantled and Lake Stevens lost the very industry which caused its founding. However, by then a flourishing town was established and continued under its own momentum.

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Lake Stevens WA

Lake Stevens WA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lake Stevens WA.