Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Shasta Lake California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Shasta Lake CA might at first seem like a daunting task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Shasta Lake CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Shasta Lake CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Shasta Lake CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Shasta Lake CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Shasta Lake CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs 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 environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Shasta Lake CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Shasta Lake CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Shasta Lake CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Shasta Lake CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large 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 charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shasta Lake CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Shasta Lake

Enroll in the Right Shasta Lake Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shasta Lake California.

 

Shasta Lake Vet Tech Colleges | Shasta Lake Veterinary Technician Schools