Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Modesto California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Modesto CA could initially seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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 need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Modesto CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Modesto CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Modesto CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges 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 department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Modesto CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through 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 best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Modesto CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Modesto CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Modesto CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Modesto CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Modesto CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Modesto

Chosse the Right Modesto Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech programs need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Modesto California.

 

Modesto Vet Tech Colleges | Modesto Veterinary Technician Schools