Veterinary Technician Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Dublin California

Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Dublin CA might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Dublin CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs 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 requires 4 years to complete. Therefore 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Dublin CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, 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 requirement for employment for many Dublin CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements 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 department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Dublin CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Dublin CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy 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 may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Dublin CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly 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 may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Dublin CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Dublin CA home, you have to make sure 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 larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Dublin CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Dublin

Enroll in the Best Dublin Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. 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 options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dublin California.

 

Dublin Vet Tech Colleges | Dublin Veterinary Technician Schools