Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Modesto California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Modesto CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start seem like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Modesto CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal 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 vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the main 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may 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  Modesto CA labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Modesto CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Modesto CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Modesto CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Modesto CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Modesto CA vet community and has a substantial 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 Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Modesto CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want 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, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Modesto CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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 campus is located near or in a large 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 increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Modesto CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Modesto

Enroll in the Right Modesto Vet Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Modesto California.

 

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