Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Port Orchard WA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Port Orchard Washington

Port Orchard WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Port Orchard WA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Port Orchard WA

cat with cone after surgery in Port Orchard WA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests 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 numerous tasks that they can perform within the Port Orchard WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from 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. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Port Orchard WA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Port Orchard

student attending online vet tech school in Port Orchard WA An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Port Orchard WA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Port Orchard WA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Port Orchard WA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Port Orchard WA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Port Orchard WA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance 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 department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Port Orchard WA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Port Orchard WA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the teachers 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 find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Port Orchard WA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Port Orchard WA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Port Orchard WA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 school is located in or close by a large 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 higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs 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 Port Orchard WA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Port Orchard WA?

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

Port Orchard, Washington

Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States.[5] It is located 13 miles due west of West Seattle and connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth. It is named after Port Orchard, the strait that separates Bainbridge Island from the Kitsap Peninsula.[citation needed]

The first European-Americans to settle in what is now Port Orchard were Wiliam Renton and Daniel Howard, who set up a saw mill there in 1854.[6] The town that was to become Port Orchard was originally platted in 1886 by Frederick Stevens, who named the new location after his father, Sidney. The town of Sidney was incorporated September 15, 1890, and was the first in Kitsap County to be both platted and incorporated. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Navy sought a suitable location for another installation on the west coast, and found it with the assistance of Sidney's residents in Orchard Bay (this installation would later become the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard).

The county seat was originally in Port Madison, but moved after a popular vote to Sidney in 1892. In December of that same year, the residents of Sidney petitioned both the state legislature and the Post Office Department to rename the city to "Port Orchard." The legislature refused, as Charleston (now West Bremerton) had also requested that name. The Post Office Department, however, went through with the name change, and as a result the Port Orchard post office ended up in Sidney, and the Charleston post office ended up in Port Orchard. It wasn't until 1903 that local politician Will Thompson convinced the state legislature to correct this confusing situation, and relocated the Charleston post office to Charleston, at the same time renaming Sidney to "Port Orchard," as it is known today.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Port Orchard WA

Port Orchard WA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Port Orchard WA.