Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Granite Falls WA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Granite Falls Washington

Granite Falls WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Granite Falls WA may at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Granite Falls WA

cat with cone after surgery in Granite Falls WA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Granite Falls WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the only real 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 mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Granite Falls

student attending online vet tech school in Granite Falls WA An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Granite Falls 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 materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. 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 self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Granite Falls WA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Granite Falls WA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Granite Falls WA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Granite Falls WA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Granite Falls WA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Granite Falls WA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Granite Falls WA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Granite Falls WA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Granite Falls WA home, you need to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Granite Falls WA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Granite Falls WA?

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

Granite Falls, Washington

Granite Falls is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located between the Pilchuck and Stillaguamish rivers in the western foothills of the Cascade Range, northeast of Lake Stevens and Marysville. The city is named for a waterfall on the river that is located north of downtown on the Mountain Loop Highway. It had a population of 3,364 at the 2010 census.

The site of Granite Falls was originally a portage for local Coast Salish tribes prior to the arrival of American settlers. The settlement was founded in 1883 and prospered after the discovery of gold and silver in the Monte Cristo mines located east of Granite Falls on the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway. Granite Falls was platted in 1891 and incorporated as a fourth-class town on November 8, 1903.

The first permanent European settler was Joseph Sous Enas, who staked a homestead claim on land south of the present city.[7] It then became a railroad station on the route between Monte Cristo (now a ghost town) and Everett. The city was officially incorporated on December 21, 1903.[7] He was quickly followed by other homesteaders, benefiting from "the Big Burn", a forest fire that cleared the heavily forested land and made it easier for settlers to stake claims.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician School near Granite Falls WA

Granite Falls WA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Granite Falls WA.