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

Choosing a veterinary technician school near South Lake Tahoe CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and care for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally 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 programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied 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

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the South Lake Tahoe CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  South Lake Tahoe CA labs or research facilities as well.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the South Lake Tahoe CA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school 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 need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important 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 program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of South Lake Tahoe CA area veterinarian 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 vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some South Lake Tahoe CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with South Lake Tahoe CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the South Lake Tahoe CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South Lake Tahoe CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your South Lake Tahoe CA home, you must confirm 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 school is located in or close by a large 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 increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Lake Tahoe CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in South Lake Tahoe

Chosse the Best South Lake Tahoe Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick 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 provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in South Lake Tahoe California.

 

South Lake Tahoe Vet Tech Schools Near Me | South Lake Tahoe Vet Tech Programs