Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Alameda California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Alameda CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets might initially seem like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Alameda CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive 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 fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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  Alameda CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Alameda CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Alameda CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Alameda CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Alameda CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Alameda CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded 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 may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Alameda CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Alameda CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate 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 larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Alameda CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm 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 because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Alameda

Chosse the Best Alameda Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Alameda California.

 

Alameda Vet Tech Colleges | Alameda Veterinary Technician Schools