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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Bellevue Washington

Bellevue WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Bellevue WA might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Bellevue WA

cat with cone after surgery in Bellevue WA Among 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 preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Bellevue WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. 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 associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Bellevue

student attending online vet tech school in Bellevue WA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bellevue WA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Bellevue WA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Bellevue WA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bellevue WA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need 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 need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Bellevue WA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Bellevue WA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Bellevue WA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Bellevue WA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Bellevue WA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Bellevue WA home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school 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 attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Bellevue WA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bellevue WA?

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

Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue (/ˈbɛlvjuː/ BEL-vyoo) is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. As the third-largest city in the Seattle metropolitan area, Bellevue has variously been characterized as an edge city, a suburb, boomburb, or satellite city.[4][5] Its population was 144,444 in a 2017 census estimate.

Prior to 2008, downtown Bellevue underwent rapid change, with many high rise projects under construction, and was relatively unaffected by the economic downturn. The downtown area is currently the second largest city center in Washington state with 1,300 businesses, 45,000 employees and 10,200 residents.[6] Based on per capita income, Bellevue is the 6th wealthiest of 522 communities in the state of Washington.[7] In 2008, Bellevue was named number 1 in CNNMoney's list of the best places to live and launch a business,[8] and in 2010 was again ranked as the 4th best place to live in America.[9] In 2014, Bellevue was ranked as the 2nd best place to live by USA Today.[10] More than 145 companies have been located in Bellevue. Current companies with headquarters in Bellevue include Expedia, T-Mobile and Valve Corporation.

Bellevue was settled in 1869 by William Meydenbauer and Aaron Mercer, who claimed homestead tracts several miles apart. Prior to the opening of the Lake Washington Floating Bridge in 1940, Bellevue was a rural area with little development. Although it was small, developers were pushing to change that; in the 1920s, James S. Ditty predicted that it would become a city with a population of 200,000.[12] He envisioned plans that included the bridging of Lake Washington and an area filled with golf courses and airports.[13] His map with these visions was published in 1928.[13]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech Program near Bellevue WA

Bellevue WA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bellevue WA.