Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Oakland California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Oakland CA to achieve your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives 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 desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Oakland CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two 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 vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Oakland CA labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Oakland CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have determined 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 veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Oakland CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain 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 schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Oakland CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Oakland CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Oakland 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 beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask 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 might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakland CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Oakland CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many 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 class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Oakland

Enroll in the Right Oakland Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Oakland California.

 

Oakland Vet Tech Programs | Oakland How To Become A Vet Tech