How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Girdwood Alaska
Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Girdwood AK might initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.
The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Girdwood AK
Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Girdwood AK veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can 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 Girdwood AK laboratories or research facilities as well.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Girdwood
An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Girdwood AK veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Girdwood AK Vet Tech Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Girdwood AK area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Girdwood AK area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Girdwood AK vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Girdwood AK veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Girdwood AK veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Girdwood AK colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Girdwood AK home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Girdwood AK. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Girdwood AK?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Girdwood Alaska area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Girdwood, Anchorage
Girdwood is a resort town within the southern extent of the Municipality of Anchorage in the state of Alaska. Located near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, surrounded by seven glaciers feeding into a number of creeks, which either converge within the valley or empty directly into the arm. Girdwood is typically accessed by the Seward Highway (Milepost 90), with the main line of the Alaska Railroad paralleling the highway. By road distance, most of the community lies within 35 to 40 miles (56 to 64 km) of downtown Anchorage. According to 2014 estimates, a little under 2,000 people live in the valley.
Founded as a community to supply miners during the Turnagain Arm gold rushes of the 1890s, Girdwood was mostly a small, quiet place until the middle of the 20th century. Two events drastically altered that. The first was the establishment of Alyeska Resort along the slopes of Mount Alyeska, which became an international destination coincidental with Anchorage's civic promotion of itself as "The Air Crossroads of the World". The second was the 1964 earthquake, which devastated the original townsite located directly along the arm. Following the earthquake, most of the town moved further up the valley to a new townsite, though a few homes remained and a strip mall was later constructed along the Seward Highway. Historically dominated in the years since the resort's opening by seasonally-occupied vacation homes and seasonal activity at the resort, the opening of the Alyeska Prince Hotel during the 1990s has shifted the resort, and hence Girdwood as a whole, more towards year-round activity and a year-round economy. This has led to periodic debates about community growth and affordability of housing for resort workers, many of whom over the years have resorted to camping illegally on public lands.
Girdwood still revolves heavily around seasonal activity, with skiing and snowboarding at Alyeska Resort bringing visitors and their money into the community. Summer activities are also popular, which include hiking, fishing and rafting. The Girdwood Forest Fair, held every July, is the community's most significant visitor attraction apart from resort-related activities. Girdwood is located within the northernmost extent of rain forest on Earth, and also serves as the closest point of access to Chugach National Forest from Anchorage proper.
Select the Right Vet Tech School near Girdwood AK
Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, 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 vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce 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 Girdwood AK.
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