Veterinary Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Berkeley California

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Berkeley CA may initially seem like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably 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 even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Berkeley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Berkeley CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Berkeley CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Berkeley CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on 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 complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Berkeley CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Berkeley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Berkeley CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Berkeley CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. 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 methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Berkeley CA home, you must 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, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Berkeley

Enroll in the Best Berkeley Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to 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 take on administrative responsibilities and support 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 excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Berkeley California.

 

Berkeley Vet Tech Programs | Berkeley How To Become A Vet Tech