Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Citrus Heights California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Citrus Heights CA might initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical 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 point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of 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 preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Citrus Heights CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Citrus Heights CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Citrus Heights CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional 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 classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Citrus Heights CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Citrus Heights CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Citrus Heights CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Citrus Heights CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Citrus Heights CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Citrus Heights CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Citrus Heights CA home, you have to confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating 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 attend classes on the weekends or at night near Citrus Heights CA. Others might 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 prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Citrus Heights

Chosse the Right Citrus Heights Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important 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 included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives 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 Citrus Heights California.

 

Citrus Heights Veterinary Technician Schools | Citrus Heights Online Vet Tech Programs