Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Pacific Grove California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Pacific Grove CA to fulfill your passionate goal to help and care for animals may from the start seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal choice? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Pacific Grove CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo 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 veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four 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 work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Pacific Grove CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Pacific Grove CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Pacific Grove CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies 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 Pacific Grove CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges 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 professional setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Pacific Grove CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied 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 high placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Pacific Grove CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Pacific Grove CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pacific Grove CA home, you have 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 campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Pacific Grove CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Pacific Grove

Enroll in the Right Pacific Grove Vet Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Pacific Grove California.

 

Pacific Grove Vet Tech Colleges | Pacific Grove Veterinary Technician Schools