Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Oakland California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Oakland CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Oakland CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos 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 apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians 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  Oakland CA labs or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you want 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 Oakland CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable 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 Oakland CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Oakland CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may 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 programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Oakland CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed 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 may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Oakland CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakland CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Oakland CA home, you must 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, 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 community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Oakland CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Oakland

Enroll in the Best Oakland Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Oakland California.

 

Oakland Vet Tech Colleges | Oakland Veterinary Technician Schools