Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Lafayette California

Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Lafayette CA could initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out 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 varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Lafayette CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with 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 vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore the only real distinction 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 licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Lafayette CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lafayette CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Lafayette CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Lafayette CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Lafayette CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lafayette CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lafayette CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lafayette CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lafayette CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Lafayette

Enroll in the Right Lafayette Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lafayette California.

 

Lafayette Vet Tech Colleges | Lafayette Veterinary Technician Schools