Veterinary Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Mill Valley California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Mill Valley CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to work with and care for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various duties 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 have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Mill Valley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional 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 specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually earn 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 general 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 complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain 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 more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Mill Valley CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Mill Valley CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 an extensive review 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 numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school 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 veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet 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 tips include looking on internet 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 complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Mill Valley CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Mill Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Mill Valley CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Mill Valley CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. 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 methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Mill Valley CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many 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 class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Mill Valley

Chosse the Right Mill Valley Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Mill Valley California.

 

Mill Valley Vet Tech Programs | Mill Valley How To Become A Vet Tech