Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Benicia California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Benicia CA to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might initially feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Technician Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Benicia CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Benicia CA labs or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Benicia CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Benicia CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Benicia CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Benicia CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Benicia CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Benicia CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Benicia 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Benicia CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Benicia
Enroll in the Best Benicia Vet Technologist School
Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Benicia California.