Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Parlier California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Parlier CA might at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Parlier CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Parlier CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Parlier CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Parlier CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Parlier CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Parlier CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Parlier CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Parlier CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting 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, especially if the college is located close by or within a large 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Parlier CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Parlier

Enroll in the Right Parlier Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Parlier California.

 

Parlier Vet Tech Colleges | Parlier Veterinary Technician Schools