Vet Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Oakland California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Oakland CA to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of vet techs 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 have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Oakland CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Oakland CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Oakland CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Oakland CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. 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 pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Oakland CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about 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 clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Oakland CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Oakland CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakland CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Oakland 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges 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 reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 Oakland CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Oakland

Enroll in the Best Oakland Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Oakland California.

 

Oakland Veterinary Technician Schools | Oakland Online Vet Tech Programs