Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Prunedale California

Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Prunedale CA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options 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 if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Prunedale CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Prunedale CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Prunedale CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating 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 tip, call some Prunedale CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Prunedale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Prunedale CA veterinary community and has a substantial 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 placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Prunedale CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. 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 discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Prunedale CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out 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 larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in 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. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Prunedale CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Prunedale

Enroll in the Right Prunedale Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Prunedale California.

 

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