Vet Technician Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Auburn California
Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Auburn CA could at first feel like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.
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Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Auburn CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Auburn CA labs or research facilities also.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available
An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Auburn CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer 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 must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Auburn CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet 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 references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Auburn CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Auburn CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Auburn CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate 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 larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Auburn CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Auburn CA home, you have to make certain 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 near a larger city. Also, if you do decide 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. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring 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 Auburn CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Auburn
Enroll in the Right Auburn Vet Technologist College
Picking the right vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Auburn California.