Vet Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Shafter California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Shafter CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for animals may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Shafter CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, 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 standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general 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 complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Shafter CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Shafter CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Shafter CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Shafter CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Shafter CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Shafter CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Shafter CA home, you must 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 campus is located in or near a larger 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 higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shafter CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Shafter

Enroll in the Right Shafter Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Shafter California.

 

Shafter Vet Tech Colleges | Shafter Veterinary Technician Schools