How to Select a Vet Assistant School in Hawaii
Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary college in Hawaii may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary techs and assistants and the training alternatives available.
The Function of a Vet Assistant and Tech
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Hawaii veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed 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 in Hawaii. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required 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 acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in labs or Hawaii research facilities also.
Veterinarian Online Training Programs
An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at an area Hawaii veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program 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 furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary tech or assistant school may be the perfect option for you.
Questions to Ask Vet Assistant and Tech Degree Programs
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in Hawaii as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet assistant and tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary tech or assistant college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Hawaii veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Hawaii school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with area veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local Hawaii vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech or assistant program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the Hawaii school has an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hawaii programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary assistant classes from work or home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the Hawaii campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the Hawaii veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.
Pick the Right Veterinary Assistant Training Program in Hawaii
Picking the ideal vet assistant or tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering veterinary tech or assistant programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary techs, assistants and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided 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 picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet assistant, tech or technologist.