Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Gig Harbor WA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Gig Harbor Washington

Gig Harbor WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Gig Harbor WA could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to find 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 analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Gig Harbor WA

cat with cone after surgery in Gig Harbor WA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Gig Harbor WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast 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 veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Gig Harbor

student attending online vet tech school in Gig Harbor WA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Gig Harbor WA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Gig Harbor WA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Gig Harbor WA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Gig Harbor WA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary 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 program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Gig Harbor WA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Gig Harbor WA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Gig Harbor WA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Gig Harbor WA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Gig Harbor WA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus 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 veterinary technician classes from your Gig Harbor WA home, you have to make certain that the driving 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 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Gig Harbor WA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Gig Harbor WA?

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

Gig Harbor, Washington

Gig Harbor is one of several cities and towns that claim to be "the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula". Due to its close access to several state and city parks, and historic waterfront that includes boutiques and fine dining, it has become a popular tourist destination. Gig Harbor is located along State Route 16, about six miles (10 km) from its origin at Interstate 5, over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.[6][7] A $1.2 billion project to add a second span to the bridge was completed in 2007.[8] From Gig Harbor, Tacoma can be reached in just under 20 minutes and Seattle in just under an hour.[9]

During a heavy storm in 1840, Captain Charles Wilkes brought the Captain's gig (small boat) into the harbor for protection.[10] Later, with the publication of Wilkes 1841 map of the Oregon Territory, he named the sheltered bay Gig Harbor.

Gig Harbor was officially incorporated on July 12, 1946. Commercial fishing, boat building and logging dominated the economy until the construction of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. Until then, the primary method of transportation between Gig Harbor and the economic center of nearby Tacoma was by steamship. Starting in 1836 steamships started plying the waters of Puget Sound and quickly developed into what was eventually dubbed "The Mosquito Fleet." Gig Harbor, isolated from Tacoma and Seattle by Puget Sound and the Tacoma Narrows, could not be reached by automobile or horseback except by a very long and arduous trip south around Puget Sound and Hammersly Inlet. The boom was to be short lived as the first bridge collapsed just months after it was completed. The resource demands of World War II prevented another bridge from being built until 1950. Between the time when the first bridge collapsed and when the second bridge was completed, a state run ferry service delivered drivers directly into downtown Gig Harbor. Remains of the ferry dock can still be seen just outside the mouth of the harbor at the southeast end of Harborview Drive. The area has been turned into a small park, where the public can see a panoramic view of the Cascade Mountains, Point Defiance and Mount Rainier.

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Gig Harbor WA

Gig Harbor WA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Gig Harbor WA.