Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Find the Right One Near Salinas California

Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Salinas CA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet 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 education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Salinas CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Salinas CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Salinas CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Salinas CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Salinas CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding 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 programs you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Salinas CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Salinas CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Salinas CA home, you have to make certain 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Salinas CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Salinas

Enroll in the Right Salinas Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Salinas California.

 

Salinas Vet Tech Colleges | Salinas Veterinary Technician Schools