Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Right One Near Union City California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Union City CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start seem like an enormous task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Union City CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as 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 exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Union City CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Union City CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Union City CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend 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. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Union City CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance 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 unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Union City CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Union City CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Union City CA home, you must 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Union City CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Union City

Chosse the Best Union City Vet Technologist School

Choosing the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Union City California.

 

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