Veterinary Technician School
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Redding California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Redding CA to achieve your passionate goal to work with and care for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Tech Education Options
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Redding CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. 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 job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Redding CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Redding CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Redding CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Redding CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Redding CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Redding CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redding CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Redding 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Redding CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Redding
Enroll in the Right Redding Veterinary Technologist Program
Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to 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 choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Redding California.