Vet Technician College
How to Choose the Right One Near Santa Cruz California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Santa Cruz CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and care for animals may initially 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 school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Santa Cruz CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. 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 work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Santa Cruz CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Cruz CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional 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 clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Cruz CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Cruz CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Santa Cruz CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Santa Cruz CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Cruz CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Cruz CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Cruz CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Cruz CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Santa Cruz

Chosse the Right Santa Cruz Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician schools 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 take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Cruz California.

 

Santa Cruz Veterinary Technician Schools | Santa Cruz Online Vet Tech Programs