How do I Choose the Best Veterinary Technician Program?

If you're planning to become a veterinary technician, also called a vet tech, choosing the right veterinary technician program can be critical to your success. There may be many options available, but the best choice is usually the one that will make it easiest for you to pursue your career goals at a tuition cost you can afford. When you're trying to select the best veterinary technician program, it usually makes sense to put factors such as accreditation, cost, degree choices, and hands-on opportunities at the top of your list of criteria. If the programs you're considering offer job placement as well, you may also include that as a deciding factor.

One of the most important parts of choosing a veterinary technician program is usually looking for a school that is accredited. This is important because potential employers may not view your credentials as legitimate if you did not earn them from an accredited institution. Likewise, accredited programs typically meet educational and training standards, which means you may have a better chance of getting a quality education that better prepares you for this career. This may prove important if you are seeking certification as well.

When choosing the best veterinary technician program, you may also do well to consider the degree programs that are available. In general, you'll need a degree program that offers an associate's degree in veterinary technology, as this is often the minimum requirement for landing a job in this field. If you are looking for advancement or may one day want to become a veterinarian, you may choose to earn a bachelor's degree instead, as earning this degree may give you a head start when the time comes to advance your education.

Hands-on learning, usually through internships and externships, is typically part of earning a vet tech degree. This training is intended to help you prepare for the tasks you'll have to perform as a vet tech. Hands-on training may also help prepare you for taking a certification exam. You may find it advantageous to choose a veterinary technician program that offers a wide variety of options for hands-on training, as you may benefit from being able to do an internship or externship in a particular facility or specialty.

Tuition and education fees may vary from program to program. As such, you may do well to choose a program not only based on its content and accreditation, but also on its affordability. Some schools do offer financial aid, however, which may help to make your decision easier.