Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Bakersfield California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Bakersfield CA may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss 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 need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Bakersfield CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bakersfield CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bakersfield CA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College 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 respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Bakersfield CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Bakersfield CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Bakersfield CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build 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 college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Bakersfield CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Bakersfield CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Bakersfield CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Bakersfield CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Bakersfield

Chosse the Best Bakersfield Vet Technologist College

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you enroll in 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bakersfield California.

 

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