Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near Bakersfield California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Bakersfield CA to achieve your heartfelt goal to help and care for our pets might from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required 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. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Bakersfield CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally 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 emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Bakersfield CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree 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 vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Bakersfield CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important 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 previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in 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 screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Bakersfield CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with 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 grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Bakersfield CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Bakersfield CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program 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 might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Bakersfield CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Bakersfield CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Bakersfield CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Bakersfield CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Bakersfield

Chosse the Right Bakersfield Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bakersfield California.

 

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