Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Scotts Valley California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Scotts Valley CA may at first feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Scotts Valley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist 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 additionally 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. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Scotts Valley CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Scotts Valley CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Scotts Valley CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Scotts Valley CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Scotts Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Scotts Valley CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Scotts Valley CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Scotts Valley CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could 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 ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Scotts Valley CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Scotts Valley

Chosse the Best Scotts Valley Vet Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Scotts Valley California.

 

Scotts Valley Vet Tech Colleges | Scotts Valley Veterinary Technician Schools