Veterinary Technician College
How to Choose the Best One Near Rohnert Park California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Rohnert Park CA might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Rohnert Park CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally 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 work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Rohnert Park CA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Rohnert Park CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Rohnert Park CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Rohnert Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Rohnert Park CA vet community and has a considerable 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 Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Rohnert Park CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Rohnert Park CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Rohnert Park CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or 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 because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Rohnert Park

Chosse the Best Rohnert Park Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Rohnert Park California.

 

Rohnert Park Vet Tech Colleges | Rohnert Park Veterinary Technician Schools