Veterinary Technician College
How to Choose the Best One Near Petaluma California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Petaluma CA could at first seem like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Petaluma CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Petaluma CA area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will receive 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 offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Petaluma CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating 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 infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Petaluma CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Petaluma CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Petaluma CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Petaluma CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Petaluma CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Petaluma CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Petaluma

Chosse the Best Petaluma Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Petaluma California.

 

Petaluma Vet Tech Colleges | Petaluma Veterinary Technician Schools