Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Find the Best One Near Oakland California
Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Oakland CA may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.
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Vet Technician Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Oakland CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Oakland CA laboratories or research facilities also.
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Oakland CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Oakland CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips 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 targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Oakland CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Oakland CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Oakland CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakland CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Oakland CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Oakland CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Oakland
Chosse the Right Oakland Veterinary Technologist School
Picking the right vet tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Oakland California.