Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Atascadero California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Atascadero CA could initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Atascadero CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions 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 graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Atascadero CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Atascadero CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Atascadero CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Atascadero CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Atascadero CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Atascadero CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Atascadero CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Atascadero CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Atascadero CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Atascadero

Enroll in the Right Atascadero Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Atascadero California.

 

Atascadero Vet Tech Colleges | Atascadero Veterinary Technician Schools