Vet Technician College
How to Find the Right One Near Larkspur California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Larkspur CA to achieve your heartfelt goal to work with and care for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Larkspur CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually 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 duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally 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, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Larkspur CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Larkspur CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips 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 infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Larkspur CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Larkspur CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Larkspur CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Larkspur CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Larkspur CA home, you must confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work 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 later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Larkspur

Enroll in the Best Larkspur Vet Technologist College

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick 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 included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Larkspur California.

 

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