Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Sacramento California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Sacramento CA to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Sacramento CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as 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 completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Sacramento CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Sacramento CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Sacramento CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Sacramento CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get clinical hands on experience 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 Sacramento CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Sacramento CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Sacramento CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Sacramento CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sacramento CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Sacramento

Enroll in the Right Sacramento Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals 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 imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Sacramento California.

 

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