Vet Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Clearlake California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Clearlake CA may at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to 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 begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Clearlake CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually 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 duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian 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 veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Clearlake CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Clearlake CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking 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 violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Clearlake CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Clearlake CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial 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 there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Clearlake CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Clearlake CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Clearlake CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Clearlake 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 offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Clearlake

Enroll in the Right Clearlake Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Clearlake California.

 

Clearlake Vet Tech Colleges | Clearlake Veterinary Technician Schools