Veterinary Technician Training
How to Pick the Right One Near Shasta Lake California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Shasta Lake CA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied 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

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Shasta Lake CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed 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 vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• 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 fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Shasta Lake CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program 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 provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Shasta Lake CA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential 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 certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Shasta Lake CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Shasta Lake CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Shasta Lake CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Shasta Lake CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well 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 larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Shasta Lake CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Shasta Lake CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Shasta Lake CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Shasta Lake

Chosse the Right Shasta Lake Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Shasta Lake California.

 

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