Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Auburn California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Auburn CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may initially feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant 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 main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Auburn CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Auburn CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Auburn CA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Auburn CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Auburn CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Auburn CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy 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 college has an outstanding reputation within the Auburn CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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 may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Auburn CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Auburn CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could 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 veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Auburn CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

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

Chosse the Right Auburn Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Auburn California.

 

Auburn Vet Tech Colleges | Auburn Veterinary Technician Schools