Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Right One Near Susanville California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Susanville CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and care for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Susanville CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Susanville CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded 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 obtain 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 schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Susanville CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating 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 violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Susanville CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Susanville CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Susanville CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could 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 larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Susanville CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Susanville CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Susanville CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Susanville

Chosse the Best Susanville Vet Technologist School

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Susanville California.

 

Susanville Vet Tech Colleges | Susanville Veterinary Technician Schools