Vet Technician Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Scotts Valley California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Scotts Valley CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical 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 point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Scotts Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. 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 practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required 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 urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Scotts Valley CA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Scotts Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Scotts Valley CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 thorough screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Scotts Valley CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in 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 authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Scotts Valley CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Scotts Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Scotts Valley CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Scotts Valley CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered 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 Scotts Valley CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Scotts Valley CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Scotts Valley

Enroll in the Best Scotts Valley Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on multiple key issues. 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 animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs 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 choice. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scotts Valley California.

 

Scotts Valley Vet Tech Programs | Scotts Valley How To Become A Vet Tech