Vet Technician Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Auburn California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Auburn CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.
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Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Auburn CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through 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 techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Auburn CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Auburn CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune 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 previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Auburn CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Auburn CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Auburn CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult 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 might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Auburn CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Auburn CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. 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? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Auburn CA home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend 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. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential 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 to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Auburn CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.
Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Auburn
Enroll in the Best Auburn Vet Technologist Program
Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Auburn California.