Vet Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Exeter California
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Exeter CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. 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 before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Technician Training Options
Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Exeter CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 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 fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Exeter CA labs or research facilities as well.
Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available
An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Exeter 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 costs, such as for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized 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 independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Exeter CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Exeter CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Exeter CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Exeter CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Exeter CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Exeter CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Exeter CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Exeter CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Exeter
Enroll in the Best Exeter Veterinary Technologist Program
Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Exeter California.