Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Rancho Cordova California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Rancho Cordova CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based 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 technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Rancho Cordova CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Rancho Cordova CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Rancho Cordova CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Rancho Cordova CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Rancho Cordova CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help 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 teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Rancho Cordova CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Rancho Cordova CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Rancho Cordova CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the college is located in or close by 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 increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Rancho Cordova 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 prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Rancho Cordova

Enroll in the Best Rancho Cordova Vet Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges 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 selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Rancho Cordova California.

 

Rancho Cordova Vet Tech Colleges | Rancho Cordova Veterinary Technician Schools