Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Monterey California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Monterey CA to achieve your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially seem like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Monterey CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Monterey CA labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Monterey CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Monterey CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements 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 authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Monterey CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Monterey CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Monterey CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Monterey CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Monterey CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college 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, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Monterey CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Monterey

Chosse the Right Monterey Vet Technologist College

Selecting the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Monterey California.

 

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