Vet Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Sonoma California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Sonoma CA may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate 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 have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties 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

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Sonoma CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Sonoma CA labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Sonoma CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Sonoma CA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among 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 rigorous screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Sonoma CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Sonoma CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Sonoma CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of 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 high placement rate may indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Sonoma CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Sonoma CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, 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 Sonoma CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within 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 particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Sonoma CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Sonoma

Enroll in the Best Sonoma Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Sonoma California.

 

Sonoma Veterinary Technician Schools | Sonoma Online Vet Tech Programs