Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Seaside California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Seaside CA might initially feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Seaside CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Seaside CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Seaside CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Seaside CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Seaside CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Seaside CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Seaside CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Seaside CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Seaside CA home, you need to make sure 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Seaside CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Seaside

Enroll in the Right Seaside Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Seaside California.

 

Seaside Veterinary Technician Schools | Seaside Online Vet Tech Programs