Vet Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Mill Valley California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Mill Valley CA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Mill Valley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced 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 examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Mill Valley CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose 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 veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Mill Valley CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Mill Valley CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges 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 professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Mill Valley CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Mill Valley CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mill Valley CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Mill Valley CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mill Valley CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Mill Valley

Chosse the Best Mill Valley Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mill Valley California.

 

Mill Valley Vet Tech Colleges | Mill Valley Veterinary Technician Schools