Vet Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Rocklin California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Rocklin CA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities 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

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Rocklin CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real difference 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Rocklin CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Rocklin CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Rocklin CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Rocklin CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Rocklin CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Rocklin CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Rocklin CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Rocklin CA home, you must confirm that the driving 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 campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Rocklin CA. Some might 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. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Rocklin

Enroll in the Right Rocklin Vet Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Rocklin California.

 

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