Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Wainwright AK

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Fort Wainwright Alaska

Fort Wainwright AK vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fort Wainwright AK could initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. After they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Fort Wainwright AK

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Wainwright AK One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Fort Wainwright AK veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. So 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 work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fort Wainwright AK laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Fort Wainwright

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Wainwright AK An approach 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. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable 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 vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Wainwright AK veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program 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 provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Fort Wainwright AK Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Fort Wainwright AK vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fort Wainwright AK 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 potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Fort Wainwright AK area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet 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 suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Fort Wainwright AK vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Fort Wainwright AK veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Fort Wainwright AK vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fort Wainwright AK schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Fort Wainwright AK home, you must confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, 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 charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fort Wainwright AK. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Wainwright AK?

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

Fort Wainwright

Fort Wainwright is a United States Army post adjacent to Fairbanks in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since 1978 Fort Wainwright has been investigating and cleaning up soil and water contamination from a landfill and drum burial site, fuel terminal, coal storage yard/fire training pits, open detonation area and underground storage tanks. It was Superfund-listed in 1990.

Ft. Wainwright was first established in 1939 as the U.S. Army Air Corps Ladd Field. In 1947 it was transferred to the newly established U.S. Air Force and renamed Ladd AFB, serving as a cold weather station to test aircraft under arctic conditions. In 1961 it was transferred to the Army and redesignated Fort Wainwright in honor of World War II general Jonathan Wainwright. From 1963 to 1972 it was home to the 171st Infantry Brigade, mechanized until 1969, then light. During that time, the 172nd Infantry Brigade was at Fort Richardson, in Anchorage. From 1986 to 1998 Fort Wainwright was the home of the 6th Infantry Division (Light), and served as the division's headquarters from 1990 to 1994. From 1998 to 2006, it was home to the 172nd Infantry Brigade, which was reorganized in 2003 as the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), part of the U.S. Army's transition program to include six SBCTs. In 2006, the 172nd was re-flagged as the 1st brigade of the 25th Infantry Division. Fort Wainwright was also the home of Task Force 49, an aviation brigade that provides logistical air support for U.S. Army Alaska which later transformed to become a part of 16th Combat Aviation Brigade with headquarters at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA in 2010 with duty in Alaska.

Since 1978 Fort Wainwright has been participating in the Department of Defense Installation Restoration Program to investigate and clean up contamination. In 1985 and 1986, lead and chromium were detected in monitoring wells at the landfill; in 1987, chromium and tetrahydrofuran were detected in monitoring wells at the proposed housing area, and chromium was detected in soil.[1] About 15,000 people live and work at the fort and obtain drinking water from wells in close proximity to contaminated source areas. The Chena River also runs through the contaminated area of Fort Wainwright.[1]

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near Fort Wainwright AK

Fort Wainwright AK vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fort Wainwright AK.