Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near San Luis Obispo California

Finding a veterinary technician school near San Luis Obispo CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally 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. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss 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 Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two 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 duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local San Luis Obispo CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Luis Obispo CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many San Luis Obispo CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

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

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with San Luis Obispo CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the San Luis Obispo CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Luis Obispo CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers 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 several 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 driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Luis Obispo CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in San Luis Obispo

Chosse the Best San Luis Obispo Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick 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 options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Luis Obispo California.

 

San Luis Obispo Vet Tech Programs | San Luis Obispo How To Become A Vet Tech