Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Truckee California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Truckee CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to work with and care for our pets might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs 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 first decisions that you will need 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 training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Truckee CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Truckee CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Truckee CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of 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 thorough review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Truckee CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating 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 infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Truckee CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Truckee CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some 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 higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Truckee CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Truckee CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Truckee CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into 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 college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Truckee CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Truckee

Chosse the Right Truckee Vet Technologist College

Choosing the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Truckee California.

 

Truckee Vet Tech Colleges | Truckee Veterinary Technician Schools