Veterinary Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Riverside California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Riverside CA may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Riverside CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Riverside CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Riverside CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Riverside CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Riverside CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Riverside CA veterinarian community and has a considerable 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 assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Riverside CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Riverside CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Riverside CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Riverside

Enroll in the Right Riverside Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech 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 selection. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Riverside California.

 

Riverside Vet Tech Colleges | Riverside Veterinary Technician Schools