Vet Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Grass Valley California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Grass Valley CA could initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant 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 bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Grass Valley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Grass Valley CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in 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 undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Grass Valley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Grass Valley CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Grass Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may 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 considering. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Grass Valley CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Grass Valley CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Grass Valley CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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 college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Grass Valley CA. Some may 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, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Grass Valley

Chosse the Best Grass Valley Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Grass Valley California.

 

Grass Valley Vet Tech Colleges | Grass Valley Veterinary Technician Schools