Veterinary Technician School
How to Select the Right One Near Exeter California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Exeter CA could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering 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 various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Exeter CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed 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 trade 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. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 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 career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Exeter CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, 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 Exeter CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among 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 assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Exeter CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Exeter CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Exeter CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Exeter CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Exeter CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Exeter CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Exeter CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover 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 Technologist in Exeter

Chosse the Best Exeter Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician 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 take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Exeter California.

 

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