Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Right One Near Novato California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Novato CA might at first feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about 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 Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want 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 commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty 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 even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Novato CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Novato CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Novato CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking 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 violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Novato CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Novato CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed 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 might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Novato CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement 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. Find out from the Novato CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few 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?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Novato CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college 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 classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Novato CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Novato

Enroll in the Right Novato Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Novato California.

 

Novato Vet Tech Colleges | Novato Veterinary Technician Schools