Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Right One Near Fair Oaks California

Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Fair Oaks CA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Fair Oaks CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent 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 involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fair Oaks CA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school 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 veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Fair Oaks CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Fair Oaks CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Fair Oaks CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Fair Oaks CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fair Oaks CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fair Oaks CA home, you need to confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course 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 finally, it's essential that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fair Oaks CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Fair Oaks

Enroll in the Right Fair Oaks Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fair Oaks California.

 

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