Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Silverdale WA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Silverdale Washington

Silverdale WA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Silverdale WA may initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Silverdale WA

cat with cone after surgery in Silverdale WA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Silverdale WA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Silverdale

student attending online vet tech school in Silverdale WA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Silverdale WA veterinary 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 travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Silverdale WA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Silverdale WA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Silverdale WA area as well as across the United States, 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 focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain 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 offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Silverdale WA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Washington school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Silverdale WA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Silverdale WA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Silverdale WA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Silverdale WA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Silverdale WA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Silverdale WA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Silverdale WA?

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

Silverdale, Washington

Silverdale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 19,204 at the 2010 census. Despite many attempts at incorporation, Silverdale remains an unincorporated community.[citation needed]

Silverdale is on the Kitsap Peninsula, situated ten miles northwest of the city of Bremerton and nine miles south of Poulsbo. Silverdale lies at the north tip of Dyes Inlet, which connects it to Bremerton via Sinclair Inlet and the Pacific Ocean via Puget Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP of Silverdale has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.4 km²), of which 6.9 square miles (18.0 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) is water.

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near Silverdale WA

Silverdale WA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in 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 narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Silverdale WA.