Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Albany California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Albany CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Albany CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also 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  Albany CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Albany CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Albany CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Albany CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Albany CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Albany CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Albany CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Albany CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Albany CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Albany

Enroll in the Best Albany Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Albany California.

 

Albany Vet Tech Colleges | Albany Veterinary Technician Schools