Veterinary Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Foothill Farms California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Foothill Farms CA might at first seem like a daunting task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor 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 although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Foothill Farms CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts 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 included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced 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 registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Foothill Farms CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Foothill Farms CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online 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 grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Foothill Farms CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Foothill Farms CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college 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 evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Foothill Farms CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Foothill Farms CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about 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 Foothill Farms CA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly 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 increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Foothill Farms CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Foothill Farms

Enroll in the Right Foothill Farms Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Foothill Farms California.

 

Foothill Farms Online Vet Tech Schools | Foothill Farms Vet Tech Schools