Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Bakersfield California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Bakersfield CA might at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Bakersfield CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Bakersfield CA labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Bakersfield 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 costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bakersfield CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician college 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Bakersfield CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating 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 violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Bakersfield CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Bakersfield CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Bakersfield CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Bakersfield CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Bakersfield CA home, you need 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bakersfield CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Bakersfield

Enroll in the Right Bakersfield Vet Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included 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 achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bakersfield California.

 

Bakersfield Veterinary Technician Schools | Bakersfield Online Vet Tech Programs