Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Susanville California

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Susanville CA might at first seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. When they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools 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 roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Susanville CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Susanville CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Susanville CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Susanville CA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a school 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 veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Susanville CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions 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 grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Susanville CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Susanville CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Susanville CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may 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, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Susanville CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Susanville CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might 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 veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Susanville CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Susanville

Enroll in the Best Susanville Vet Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Susanville California.

 

Susanville Veterinary Technician Schools | Susanville Online Vet Tech Programs