Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Redding California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Redding CA may initially seem like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Redding CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Redding CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Redding CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Redding CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Redding CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Redding CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy 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 high placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Redding CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redding CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Redding CA home, you have to make sure 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Redding CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Redding

Enroll in the Best Redding Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, 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 reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Redding California.

 

Redding Veterinary Technician Schools | Redding Online Vet Tech Programs