Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Novato California
Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Novato CA might at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
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Vet Tech Education Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Novato CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Novato CA laboratories or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Novato CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a school 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 vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Novato CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Novato CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Novato CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary 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 can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Novato CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Novato CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Novato CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting 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 school is located in or near 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 online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Novato CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Novato
Chosse the Right Novato Vet Technologist Program
Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided 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 choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Novato California.