Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Ridgecrest California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Ridgecrest CA to achieve your passionate goal to work with and care for our pets may initially feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Ridgecrest CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. 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 opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Available

An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Ridgecrest CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Ridgecrest CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Ridgecrest CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Ridgecrest CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Ridgecrest CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Ridgecrest CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Ridgecrest CA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Ridgecrest CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate 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 decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Ridgecrest CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Ridgecrest

Chosse the Best Ridgecrest Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Ridgecrest California.

 

Ridgecrest Veterinary Technician Schools | Ridgecrest Online Vet Tech Programs