Vet Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Santa Rosa California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Santa Rosa CA might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Santa Rosa CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational 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 associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Rosa CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Santa Rosa CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Santa Rosa CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Santa Rosa CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school 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 evaluating. A low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Rosa CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Rosa CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Rosa CA home, you have to make certain 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, 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 especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Rosa CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Santa Rosa

Chosse the Right Santa Rosa Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Rosa California.

 

Santa Rosa Vet Tech Colleges | Santa Rosa Veterinary Technician Schools