Vet Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near San Luis Obispo California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Luis Obispo CA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters 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 formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Luis Obispo CA labs or research facilities as well.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Luis Obispo CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many San Luis Obispo CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some San Luis Obispo CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with San Luis Obispo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Luis Obispo CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Luis Obispo CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Luis Obispo CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in San Luis Obispo

Enroll in the Right San Luis Obispo Vet Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech 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 selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Luis Obispo California.

 

San Luis Obispo Vet Tech Colleges | San Luis Obispo Veterinary Technician Schools