Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lakewood WA - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Lakewood Washington

Lakewood WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lakewood WA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Lakewood WA

cat with cone after surgery in Lakewood WA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Lakewood WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Lakewood

student attending online vet tech school in Lakewood WA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lakewood WA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Lakewood WA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Lakewood WA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lakewood WA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Lakewood WA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Lakewood WA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Lakewood WA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check 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 excellent reputation within the Lakewood WA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lakewood WA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lakewood WA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school 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 classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 Lakewood WA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lakewood WA?

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

Lakewood, Washington

Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes District (this name was used by the U.S. Census in the 1970 and 1980 Census). Lakewood is the second-largest city in Pierce County and is home to the Clover Park School District, the Lakewood Water District, Fort Steilacoom Park and Western State Hospital, a regional state psychiatric hospital.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.95 square miles (49.08 km2), of which, 17.17 square miles (44.47 km2) is land and 1.78 square miles (4.61 km2) is water.[2]

There are several lakes within the city limits; the largest in area are American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, and Waughop Lake. A number of small creeks flow through Lakewood, some of which drain into nearby Puget Sound. The largest of these, Chambers Creek, flows from Lake Steilacoom to Chambers Bay between nearby University Place and Steilacoom.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech College near Lakewood WA

Lakewood WA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lakewood WA.