Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near Scotts Valley California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Scotts Valley CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and care for our pets might from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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 whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Scotts Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore 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 opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Scotts Valley CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Scotts Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Scotts Valley CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Scotts Valley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Scotts Valley CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Scotts Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may mean 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, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Scotts Valley 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 assistance 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Scotts Valley CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Scotts Valley CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Scotts Valley CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Scotts Valley

Enroll in the Best Scotts Valley Vet Technologist College

Choosing the right vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scotts Valley California.

 

Scotts Valley Veterinary Technician Schools | Scotts Valley Online Vet Tech Programs