Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Clovis California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Clovis CA to achieve your passionate desire to help and care for animals may from the start feel like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not 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 location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.
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Vet Tech Degree Options
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Clovis CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade 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. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast 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 vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Clovis CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Vet Tech Online Programs Available
An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Clovis CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Clovis CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Clovis CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Clovis CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Clovis CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study 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 could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Clovis CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Clovis CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Clovis CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Clovis CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure 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 because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Clovis
Enroll in the Right Clovis Veterinary Technologist College
Selecting the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative 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 programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Clovis California.