Vet Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Folsom California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Folsom CA could initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper selection? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are examining. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore 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

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Folsom CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 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 work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Folsom CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Folsom CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Folsom CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Folsom CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Folsom CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Folsom CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Folsom CA home, you have to make certain 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in 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. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Folsom CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Folsom

Enroll in the Right Folsom Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges 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 choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Folsom California.

 

Folsom Vet Tech Colleges | Folsom Veterinary Technician Schools