Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Cameron Park California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Cameron Park CA could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant 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 need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Cameron Park CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Cameron Park CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Cameron Park CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Cameron Park CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Cameron Park CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus 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 signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Cameron Park CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean 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 most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Cameron Park CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Cameron Park CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Cameron Park CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Cameron Park

Enroll in the Right Cameron Park Vet Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Cameron Park California.

 

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