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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Douglas Alaska

Douglas AK vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Douglas AK could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Douglas AK

cat with cone after surgery in Douglas AK One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Douglas AK veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Douglas AK laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Douglas

student attending online vet tech school in Douglas AK An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Douglas AK veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make 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 complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Douglas AK Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Douglas AK vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Douglas AK area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose 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 undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Douglas AK area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Douglas AK veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Douglas AK veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Douglas AK veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Douglas AK programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Douglas AK home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring 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 Douglas AK. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Douglas AK?

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

Douglas, Juneau

The only traditional school left on Douglas is Gastineau Elementary, which serves all the Douglas Island elementary-aged students; the Douglas Public Library is part of the Juneau Public Library System. Douglas has a few restaurants and bars (The Island Pub, Louie's Douglas Inn, and The Douglas Café), a local live theater (Perseverance Theater), and a gas station. The town’s population has dropped over the years but recently is up to about 3,000 people, or close to ten percent of the City and Borough of Juneau’s population. Douglas gets its water and electricity from Juneau and has a mix of onsite and municipal (diverted to Juneau) wastewater treatment.

Douglas Island was originally a border of the Auke people’s and Taku people’s territory. It was not usually used for year-round settlement, but rather as a place to spend the summer, or at times a place for battles.

In 1880 gold was discovered in Juneau, Alaska, across the narrow Gastineau Channel, drawing in all kinds of people looking to strike it rich. In 1881 two towns sprouted up on Douglas Island: Treadwell and Douglas. Treadwell was the community for the miners, with its own entertainment, pool, and bar. Douglas, too, had businesses popping up and soon had its own school and post office. A railroad and boardwalk connected the two towns. At this time the Treadwell power plant was large enough to power the entire Treadwell area, Douglas, and Juneau. The power plant continued to serve the Alaska-Juneau Gold Mine until the mine was shut down in 1944 by the War Department as non-essential to the war effort.

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician School near Douglas AK

Douglas AK vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online 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 selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Douglas AK.