Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Right One Near South Lake Tahoe California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near South Lake Tahoe CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and care for animals might initially feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the South Lake Tahoe CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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  South Lake Tahoe CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local South Lake Tahoe CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses 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 veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the South Lake Tahoe CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many South Lake Tahoe CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some South Lake Tahoe CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with South Lake Tahoe CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the South Lake Tahoe CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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 sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the South Lake Tahoe CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your South Lake Tahoe CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near South Lake Tahoe CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in South Lake Tahoe

Chosse the Best South Lake Tahoe Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in South Lake Tahoe California.

 

South Lake Tahoe Vet Tech Programs | South Lake Tahoe How To Become A Vet Tech