Vet Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Salinas California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Salinas CA could initially feel like a challenging task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Salinas CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required 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. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Salinas CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Salinas CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Salinas CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Salinas CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Salinas CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Salinas CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy 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 could mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Salinas CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Salinas CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Salinas CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Salinas CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Salinas

Enroll in the Right Salinas Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Salinas California.

 

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