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

Finding a veterinary technician school near San Luis Obispo CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and care for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet 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 Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Luis Obispo CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many San Luis Obispo CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations 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 pointer, get in touch with some San Luis Obispo CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with San Luis Obispo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult 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 lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary community and has a significant 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 a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Luis Obispo CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend 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 find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Luis Obispo CA home, you need to make sure 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college 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, attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Luis Obispo CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

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

Chosse the Right San Luis Obispo Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Luis Obispo California.

 

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