Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Ridgecrest California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Ridgecrest CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Ridgecrest CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians 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 Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally 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 many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be 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 practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Ridgecrest CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Ridgecrest CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Ridgecrest CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Ridgecrest CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Ridgecrest CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Ridgecrest CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute 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 instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, 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 state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Ridgecrest CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Ridgecrest

Enroll in the Best Ridgecrest Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Ridgecrest California.

 

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