Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Castro Valley California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Castro Valley CA could at first feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as 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 veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties 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 first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Castro Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide 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 police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain 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 higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Castro Valley CA labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Castro Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Castro Valley CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Castro Valley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Castro Valley CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Castro Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Castro Valley CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Castro Valley CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Castro Valley CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Castro Valley CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later 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 may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Castro Valley

Enroll in the Best Castro Valley Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Castro Valley California.

 

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