Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Livermore California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Livermore CA might at first seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Livermore CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with 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 vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Livermore CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting 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 precondition for employment for many Livermore CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Livermore CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Livermore CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy 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 may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Livermore CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Livermore CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Livermore CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Livermore CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Livermore

Chosse the Right Livermore Vet Technologist School

Choosing the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose 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 options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Livermore California.

 

Livermore Vet Tech Colleges | Livermore Veterinary Technician Schools