Veterinary Technician Training
How to Choose the Best One Near Chico California

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Chico CA could initially feel like a challenging undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not 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 cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Chico CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar 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. So the main distinction 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 potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Chico CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Chico CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should 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 agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Chico CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating 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 relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Chico CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Chico CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Chico CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Chico CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Chico CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Chico 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 offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Chico

Chosse the Best Chico Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Chico California.

 

Chico Vet Tech Colleges | Chico Veterinary Technician Schools