Veterinary Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Berkeley California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Berkeley CA to achieve your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether 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 invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Berkeley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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  Berkeley CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Berkeley CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded 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 confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Berkeley CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Berkeley CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Berkeley CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist 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 begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study 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 might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Berkeley CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may 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 bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Berkeley CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Berkeley CA home, you must make sure 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, especially if the college is located in or near a larger 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Berkeley CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Berkeley

Chosse the Best Berkeley Vet Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Berkeley California.

 

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