Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Dublin California
Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Dublin CA might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties 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 first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Dublin CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dublin CA laboratories or research facilities as well.
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have selected 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 technical schools in the Dublin CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Dublin CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Dublin CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Dublin CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school 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 evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Dublin CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Dublin CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for 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 College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Dublin CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger 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 higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Dublin CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Dublin
Chosse the Best Dublin Vet Technologist Program
Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Dublin California.