Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Livermore California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Livermore CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and care for animals might from the start feel like an enormous challenge. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Livermore CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for example 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 almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over 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 vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Livermore CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Livermore CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Livermore CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Livermore CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Livermore CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Livermore CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Livermore CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Livermore CA home, you must make sure 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, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Livermore CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Livermore

Chosse the Best Livermore Vet Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Livermore California.

 

Livermore Veterinary Technician Schools | Livermore Online Vet Tech Programs