Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Oak Harbor WA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Oak Harbor Washington

Oak Harbor WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Oak Harbor WA might at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Oak Harbor WA

cat with cone after surgery in Oak Harbor WA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization interests 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 although there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Oak Harbor WA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Oak Harbor

student attending online vet tech school in Oak Harbor WA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Oak Harbor WA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Oak Harbor WA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Oak Harbor WA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Oak Harbor WA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Oak Harbor WA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start 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 contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Oak Harbor WA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Oak Harbor WA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Oak Harbor WA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Oak Harbor WA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Oak Harbor WA home, you have 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, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Oak Harbor WA. Others might only be able to attend 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 due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Oak Harbor WA?

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

Oak Harbor, Washington

Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city; it is named for the Garry Oak trees which grace its skyline. The city's growth coincided with two major events: the building of Deception Pass Bridge on July 31, 1935, and the completion of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on September 21, 1942. Oak Harbor's history goes back to the early 1850s, when two settlers staked claims where the city now stands—Zakarias Toftezen, a shoemaker from Norway; C.W. Sumner from New England.[5]

Houses and businesses sprouted up along the shores of Oak Harbor as the pioneers relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and freight from the Island to the mainland and back as well as Fidalgo Island to the north.

The Irish came in the late 1850s, making Oak Harbor grow and prosper as they fished and farmed the area, and the city's Dutch heritage arrived in the 1890s. Churches, schools, and more businesses followed the arrival of the Dutch. A high school was built in 1906. Oak Harbor flourished as a small country town until Deception Pass Bridge and the U.S. Navy Base connected the city to the rest of the region and the world.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Oak Harbor WA

Oak Harbor WA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online 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 decision. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Oak Harbor WA.