Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Lincoln California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Lincoln CA may initially seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Lincoln CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured 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 performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. 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 career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Lincoln CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lincoln CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Lincoln CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking 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 recommendation, contact some Lincoln CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Lincoln CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help 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 difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Lincoln CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lincoln CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lincoln CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger 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 higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lincoln CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Lincoln

Enroll in the Right Lincoln Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. 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 animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lincoln California.

 

Lincoln Vet Tech Colleges | Lincoln Veterinary Technician Schools