Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Larkspur California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Larkspur CA to achieve your heartfelt goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns 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 equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss 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 Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. 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 undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Larkspur CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Larkspur CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Larkspur CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Larkspur CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Larkspur CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Larkspur CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Larkspur CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching 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 find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Larkspur CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Larkspur CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Larkspur CA home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Larkspur CA. Others may only be able to attend 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 might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Larkspur

Enroll in the Best Larkspur Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools 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 selection. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Larkspur California.

 

Larkspur Veterinary Technician Schools | Larkspur Online Vet Tech Programs