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

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Mill Valley CA may at first seem like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally 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 are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Mill Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher 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 acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Mill Valley CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mill Valley CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will get 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 offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Mill Valley CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Mill Valley CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some 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 medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Mill Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  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 colleges you are considering. A lower rate may signify that the instructors 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 higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Mill Valley CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could 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 get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Mill Valley CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Mill Valley CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Mill Valley CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Mill Valley

Enroll in the Right Mill Valley Vet Technologist School

Picking the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mill Valley California.

 

Mill Valley Vet Tech Schools Near Me | Mill Valley Vet Tech Programs