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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Kenmore Washington

Kenmore WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Kenmore WA may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure 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 future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Kenmore WA

cat with cone after surgery in Kenmore WA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent 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 technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Kenmore WA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive 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 counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Kenmore WA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Kenmore

student attending online vet tech school in Kenmore WA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Kenmore WA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, may be lower 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 recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Kenmore WA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Kenmore WA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Kenmore WA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, 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 verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Kenmore WA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Kenmore WA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get 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 Kenmore WA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Kenmore WA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Kenmore WA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Kenmore WA home, you need to confirm 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 campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Kenmore WA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kenmore WA?

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

Kenmore, Washington

Kenmore (sometimes referred to as Kenmore by the Lake) is a city in King County, Washington, United States, along the northernmost shores of Lake Washington. A mix of bedroom community, one-time country retreat, and freshwater industrial port, prominent features include the nation's largest seaplane-only, commercial air facility at Kenmore Air Harbor,[5]Bastyr University, several waterside parks and marinas, and easy access to the Burke-Gilman Trail and the King County bike-trail system. Sites of local historical interest include the former St. Edward Seminary, now Saint Edward State Park; and Log Boom Park. Kenmore's official city flower is the dahlia, the official city bird is the great blue heron, and the official city evergreen is the rhododendron. The population was 20,460 at the 2010 census.

Founded in 1901, Kenmore's name comes third-hand from the Scottish village of Kenmore, via town founder home town of Kenmore, Ontario. John McMasters and his wife Annie arrived in Puget Sound circa 1889 from Canada, intending to establish themselves in the shingle-making trade. They opened a shingle mill on the northern shore of Lake Washington on land leased from Watson C. Squire. By 1903, Kenmore had established a school system and post office,[6] but it did not formally incorporate as a city until August 31, 1998.[7]

Despite cargo railway service passing through the area as early as 1887 via the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, most access to the city in its early days was by boat, with regular ferry service to Seattle, Bothell, and Woodinville starting in 1906. The city later gained a passenger railroad stop. The first improved road connection to Seattle and Bothell—the Red Brick Road—opened between 1913 and 1914, with bus service following the laying of the bricks. As a result, Kenmore became a country retreat for weekend gardeners with local landowners selling off clear-cut "garden plots" to Seattlites with automobiles and green thumbs. It attracted at least two short-lived nudist camps during the 1920s.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Kenmore WA

Kenmore WA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important 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 included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Kenmore WA.