Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Oakley California
Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Oakley CA may initially seem like a challenging undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians 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 initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Oakley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.
- 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 completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts 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 involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So 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 work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Oakley CA labs or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Oakley CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Oakley CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Oakley CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Oakley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Oakley CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakley CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Oakley CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose 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 may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Oakley 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 may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Oakley
Enroll in the Right Oakley Veterinary Technologist Program
Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Oakley California.