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

Finding a veterinary technician school near Sacramento CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals might initially feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Sacramento CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So the only real difference 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet 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  Sacramento CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Sacramento CA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Sacramento CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking 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 violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Sacramento CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Sacramento CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech 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 considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy 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 college has an exceptional reputation within the Sacramento CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Sacramento CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about 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 Sacramento CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 Sacramento CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Sacramento

Enroll in the Best Sacramento Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in 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 included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Sacramento California.

 

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