Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Oakland California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Oakland CA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Oakland CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet 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 involved in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Oakland CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Oakland CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. 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 suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Oakland CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Oakland CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy 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 excellent 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 thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Oakland CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Oakland CA home, you must make sure that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Oakland CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm 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 may discover that an online school 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 Best Oakland Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for 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 picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Oakland California.

 

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