Vet Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Fairfield California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fairfield CA might at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Fairfield CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated 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 emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Fairfield CA labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available 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 vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Fairfield CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Fairfield CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded 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 get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Fairfield CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Fairfield CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Fairfield CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for 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 schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Fairfield CA veterinarian community and has a significant 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fairfield CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Fairfield CA home, you have to make sure 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 campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Fairfield CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Fairfield

Chosse the Best Fairfield Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fairfield California.

 

Fairfield Veterinary Technician Schools | Fairfield Online Vet Tech Programs