Veterinary Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Piedmont California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Piedmont CA may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Piedmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Piedmont CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Piedmont CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Piedmont CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Piedmont CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Piedmont CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult 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 instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Piedmont CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Piedmont CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Piedmont CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Piedmont CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Piedmont

Enroll in the Right Piedmont Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Piedmont California.

 

Piedmont Vet Tech Programs | Piedmont How To Become A Vet Tech