Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Citrus California
Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Citrus CA might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as 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 an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
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Vet Tech Training Options
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Citrus CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn 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 basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Citrus CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish 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, technical and vocational schools in the Citrus CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Citrus CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies 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 tip, phone some Citrus CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Citrus CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Citrus CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Citrus CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Citrus CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Citrus CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Citrus
Chosse the Right Citrus Veterinary Technologist School
Picking the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing 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 reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Citrus California.