Veterinary Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Sonoma California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Sonoma CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Sonoma CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a two 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, 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 technical schools in the Sonoma CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade 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 important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Sonoma CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting 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 pointer, phone some Sonoma CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Sonoma CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Sonoma CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Sonoma CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Sonoma CA home, you need to make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Sonoma CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Sonoma

Enroll in the Best Sonoma Vet Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sonoma California.

 

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