Vet Technician Training
How to Choose the Right One Near Fairfield California

Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fairfield CA could at first seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties of vet techs 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 want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Fairfield CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade 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. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing 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 perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain 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 higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Fairfield CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying 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, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among 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 demanding screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Fairfield CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Fairfield CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Fairfield CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Fairfield CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fairfield CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fairfield CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Fairfield CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Fairfield

Enroll in the Best Fairfield Vet Technologist College

Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fairfield California.

 

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