Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near Piedmont California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Piedmont CA might initially feel like a challenging task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Piedmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Piedmont CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Piedmont CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at 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 authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Piedmont CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Piedmont CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way 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 veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Piedmont CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Piedmont CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Piedmont CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Piedmont CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

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

Chosse the Best Piedmont Vet Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Piedmont California.

 

Piedmont Vet Tech Colleges | Piedmont Veterinary Technician Schools