Vet Technician College
How to Find the Right One Near Berkeley California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Berkeley CA might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Berkeley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So 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 also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Berkeley CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally 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 some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Berkeley CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Berkeley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Berkeley CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

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

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Berkeley CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Berkeley CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Berkeley CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs 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 necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating 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. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Berkeley

Chosse the Right Berkeley Vet Technologist College

Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided 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 choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Berkeley California.

 

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