Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Concord California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Concord CA to achieve your heartfelt goal to help and care for animals may initially feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. 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 factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Concord CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Concord CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Concord CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College 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 previously stated, among the most highly respected 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 ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Concord CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose 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 assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking 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 targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Concord CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Concord CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Concord CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Concord CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend 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 instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Concord CA home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into 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 school 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 increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Concord CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Concord

Enroll in the Right Concord Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Concord California.

 

Concord Veterinary Technician Schools | Concord Online Vet Tech Programs