Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Shafter California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Shafter CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and care for animals might initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want 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 commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Shafter CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. Therefore 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Shafter CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, can be lower 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 certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree 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 vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Shafter CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want 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 looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician 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 undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Shafter CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials 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 grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Shafter CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Shafter CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. 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 valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Shafter CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Shafter CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Shafter CA home, you need to confirm 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 college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend 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. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shafter CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Shafter

Chosse the Best Shafter Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options 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 Programs | Shafter How To Become A Vet Tech