Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Granite Bay California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Granite Bay CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and care for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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 have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Granite Bay CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal 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. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Granite Bay CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Granite Bay CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Granite Bay CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent 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 assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Granite Bay CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Granite Bay CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Granite Bay CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Granite Bay CA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Granite Bay CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Granite Bay CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, 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 school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Granite Bay

Enroll in the Best Granite Bay Vet Technologist College

Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Granite Bay California.

 

Granite Bay Veterinary Technician Schools | Granite Bay Online Vet Tech Programs