Veterinary Technician School
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Antioch California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Antioch CA might initially seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Antioch CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Antioch CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered

An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Antioch CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Antioch CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Antioch CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Antioch CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain 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 arranged with Antioch CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching 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 mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Antioch CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Antioch CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Antioch CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large 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 increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Antioch CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Antioch

Chosse the Best Antioch Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Antioch California.

 

Antioch Veterinary Technician Schools | Antioch Online Vet Tech Programs