Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Find the Best One Near Oildale California

Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Oildale CA might at first feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Oildale CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An alternative that might 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 schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Oildale CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school 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 provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Oildale CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, 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 review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Oildale CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Oildale CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Oildale CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Oildale CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well 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 may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Oildale CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might 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, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Oildale CA home, you need to make sure 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, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Oildale CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Oildale

Enroll in the Best Oildale Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Oildale California.

 

Oildale Veterinary Technician Schools | Oildale Online Vet Tech Programs