Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Truckee California
Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Truckee CA might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. 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 find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.
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Vet Technician Degree Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Truckee CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Truckee CA laboratories or research facilities as well.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Truckee CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Truckee CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Truckee CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Truckee CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Truckee CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Truckee CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Truckee CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Truckee CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Truckee
Enroll in the Right Truckee Vet Technologist Program
Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Truckee California.