Vet Technician School
How to Pick the Right One Near Auburn California
Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Auburn CA may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
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Vet Tech Education Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Auburn CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. 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 prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Auburn CA labs or research facilities also.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered
An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Auburn CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Auburn CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous 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 Auburn CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Auburn CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Auburn CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships 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 vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Auburn CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded 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 most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Auburn CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Auburn CA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school 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 online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are evaluating 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 Auburn CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Auburn
Enroll in the Best Auburn Veterinary Technologist Program
Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select 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 provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Auburn California.