Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Clovis California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Clovis CA to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and care for animals might initially feel like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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 technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the Clovis CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet 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 included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher 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 urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Clovis CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Clovis CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior 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. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Clovis CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online 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 complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Clovis CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Clovis CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Clovis CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Clovis CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Clovis CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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 campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Clovis CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Clovis

Chosse the Best Clovis Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included 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 selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Clovis California.

 

Clovis Vet Tech Colleges | Clovis Veterinary Technician Schools