Vet Technician Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Pittsburg California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Pittsburg CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Pittsburg CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. 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 possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Pittsburg CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Pittsburg CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet 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 specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Pittsburg CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Pittsburg CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Pittsburg CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pittsburg 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 observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about 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 Pittsburg CA home, you have to confirm 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, particularly if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could 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 important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pittsburg CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Pittsburg

Chosse the Best Pittsburg Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Pittsburg California.

 

Pittsburg Vet Tech Colleges | Pittsburg Veterinary Technician Schools