Veterinary Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Orinda California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Orinda CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and care for animals may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so 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 are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Orinda CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Orinda CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available

An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Orinda CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in 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 comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Orinda CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening 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 available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Orinda CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Orinda CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Orinda CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Orinda CA vet community and has a considerable 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 placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Orinda CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Orinda CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Orinda CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require 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 emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Orinda

Enroll in the Right Orinda Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Orinda California.

 

Orinda Veterinary Technician Schools | Orinda Online Vet Tech Programs