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

Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Livermore CA might initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want 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 factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Livermore CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible 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. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Livermore CA labs or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Livermore CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of 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 verifies you will obtain 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 available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Livermore CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Livermore CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Livermore CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Livermore CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well 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 in size, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Livermore CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Livermore CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Livermore CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Livermore

Chosse the Right Livermore Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Livermore California.

 

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