Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Bakersfield California

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Bakersfield CA may at first feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet 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 principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Bakersfield CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference 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 possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Bakersfield CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Bakersfield CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Bakersfield CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Bakersfield CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bakersfield CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Bakersfield CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Bakersfield CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in 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 taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bakersfield CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Bakersfield

Chosse the Best Bakersfield Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on 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 included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bakersfield California.

 

Bakersfield Vet Tech Colleges | Bakersfield Veterinary Technician Schools