Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Folsom California
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Folsom CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an enormous task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Technician 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 preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Folsom CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also 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 urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Folsom CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered
An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Folsom CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Folsom CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Folsom CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Folsom CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Folsom CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Folsom CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Folsom CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Folsom CA home, you must make certain that the driving 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within 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. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option 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 find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Folsom CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Folsom
Chosse the Best Folsom Veterinary Technologist Program
Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Folsom California.