Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Santa Cruz California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Santa Cruz CA could initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense 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 evaluated as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire 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 invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Santa Cruz CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Available

An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Cruz 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 expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Cruz CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Santa Cruz CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Santa Cruz CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Santa Cruz CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Cruz CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Cruz CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors 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 consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Cruz CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into 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, particularly if the college is located in or near a large 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, 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 go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Santa Cruz

Chosse the Best Santa Cruz Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included 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 program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Cruz California.

 

Santa Cruz Vet Tech Programs | Santa Cruz How To Become A Vet Tech