Vet Technician Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Novato California
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Novato CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and care for animals might from the start feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
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Vet Tech Training Options
Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Novato CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade 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. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two 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 fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Novato CA labs or research facilities also.
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Novato CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Novato CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Novato CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Novato CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Novato CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Novato CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Novato CA home, you must 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Novato CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Novato
Chosse the Right Novato Veterinary Technologist College
Choosing the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Novato California.