Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Brentwood California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Brentwood CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and care for our pets might from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Brentwood CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Brentwood CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Brentwood CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Brentwood CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Brentwood CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Brentwood CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Brentwood CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Brentwood CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Brentwood CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Brentwood CA home, you must confirm that the driving 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 close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Brentwood CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Brentwood

Enroll in the Right Brentwood Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online 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 choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Brentwood California.

 

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