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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Valley Washington

Valley WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Valley WA may at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Valley WA

cat with cone after surgery in Valley WA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Valley WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Valley

student attending online vet tech school in Valley WA An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Valley WA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in 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 manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Valley WA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Valley WA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Valley WA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Valley WA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Valley WA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Valley WA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical 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 may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study 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 high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Valley WA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Valley WA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Valley WA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Valley WA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Valley WA?

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

Maple Valley, Washington

The area was settled in 1879 by three men who were improving a trail and brought their families in. When a name for a future community was proposed, the names Vine Maple Valley and Maple Ridge were suggested. A vote was taken by writing the names on slips of paper and placing them in a hat. Vine Maple Valley won by 2/3, but the word "Vine" was later cut by the post office because it made the name too long.

The town's early history mainly had to do with coal, lumber milling to build homes, and a railroad that ran through town. Coal was brought in from Black Diamond to the south, but the town itself also mined coal from Cedar Mountain. The mine was used as late as 1947. Rail workers for lines like the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Cedar River Watershed, closed off by the City of Seattle, meant more workers for those things. More residents meant more lumber milling. More lumber milling meant more workers. Suquamish tribe chairperson Martha George was born near Maple Valley in Sheridan in 1892, at a logging camp where her mother and grandmother worked as cooks."[5]

The town grew inward. Blacksmith shops, hotels, saloons and stores took up the town in the 1910s and 1920s. Schools went up as well. Early schools were shacks at best. A two-room school went up in 1910, but a larger school was quickly needed. Tahoma High School, a three-story brick building, went up in 1920. Students made up the name by combining the first two letters in the town names Taylor, Hobart and Maple Valley.[6] The school still serves the Tahoma School District as an elementary school.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech College near Valley WA

Valley WA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Valley WA.