Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Clovis California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Clovis CA might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Clovis CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore 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 required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Clovis CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Clovis CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Clovis CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Clovis CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Clovis CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Clovis CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Clovis CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. 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 School Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Clovis CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary programs 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 in the evenings near Clovis CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Clovis

Chosse the Best Clovis Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs 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 selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Clovis California.

 

Clovis Veterinary Technician Schools | Clovis Online Vet Tech Programs