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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Anchorage Alaska

Anchorage AK vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Anchorage AK might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Anchorage AK

cat with cone after surgery in Anchorage AK One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Anchorage AK veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet 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 involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Anchorage AK laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Anchorage

student attending online vet tech school in Anchorage AK An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because 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 several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Anchorage AK veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Anchorage AK Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Anchorage AK vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Anchorage AK area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary 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 program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Anchorage AK area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Anchorage AK veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Anchorage AK veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Anchorage AK veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Anchorage AK colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Anchorage AK home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Anchorage AK. Some may only be able to attend classes 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 may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Anchorage AK?

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

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage (officially called the Municipality of Anchorage; Dena'ina: Dgheyaytnu) is a unified home rule municipality in the U.S. state of Alaska. With an estimated 298,192 residents in 2016,[7] it is Alaska's most populous city and contains more than 40 percent of the state's total population; among the 50 states, only New York has a higher percentage of residents who live in its most populous city. All together, the Anchorage metropolitan area, which combines Anchorage with the neighboring Matanuska-Susitna Borough, had a population of 401,635 in 2016, which accounts for more than half of the state's population. At 1,706 square miles of land area, the city is larger than the smallest state, Rhode Island, at 1,212 square miles.[8]

Anchorage is in the south-central portion of Alaska, at the terminus of the Cook Inlet, on a peninsula formed by the Knik Arm to the north and the Turnagain Arm to the south.[9] The city limits span 1,961.1 square miles (5,079.2 km2) which encompass the urban core, a joint military base,[10] several outlying communities and almost all of Chugach State Park.[11]

Due to its location, almost equidistant from New York City, Frankfurt, and Tokyo, Anchorage lies within 9 1⁄2 hours by air of nearly 90% of the industrialized world.[12] For this reason, the Anchorage International Airport is a common refueling stop for many international cargo flights and home to a major FedEx hub, which the company calls a "critical part" of its global network of services.[13]

Pick the Best Vet Tech School near Anchorage AK

Anchorage AK vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Anchorage AK.