Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Arroyo Grande California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Arroyo Grande CA may initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Arroyo Grande CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Arroyo Grande CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Arroyo Grande CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Arroyo Grande CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Arroyo Grande CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Arroyo Grande CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Arroyo Grande CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Arroyo Grande CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Arroyo Grande CA home, you must make certain 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, particularly if the college 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Arroyo Grande CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Arroyo Grande

Enroll in the Right Arroyo Grande Vet Technologist College

Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative 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 included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Arroyo Grande California.

 

Arroyo Grande Vet Tech Programs | Arroyo Grande How To Become A Vet Tech