Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Orinda California
Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Orinda CA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. 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 necessary training and education. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
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Vet Technician Education Options
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Orinda CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists can 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 Orinda CA labs or research facilities as well.
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Orinda CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Orinda CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with 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 recommendation, call some Orinda CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Orinda CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may 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 reviewing. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Orinda CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify 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 may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Orinda CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get 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 College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Orinda CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 close by or within 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 state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Orinda CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Orinda
Chosse the Right Orinda Vet Technologist College
Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Orinda California.