Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Best One Near Atascadero California

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Atascadero CA might at first feel like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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 plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Atascadero CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Atascadero CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Atascadero CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with 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 regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Atascadero CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Atascadero CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Atascadero CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Atascadero CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor 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 qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Atascadero CA home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Atascadero CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Atascadero

Enroll in the Best Atascadero Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools 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 selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Atascadero California.

 

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