Veterinary Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Reedley California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Reedley CA may at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss 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 Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Reedley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical 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 specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two 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 general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Reedley CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech 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 college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Reedley CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree 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 imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Reedley CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking 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 specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Reedley CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Reedley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging 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 may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Reedley CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Reedley CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Reedley CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Reedley CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Reedley

Enroll in the Best Reedley Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Reedley California.

 

Reedley Vet Tech Programs | Reedley How To Become A Vet Tech