Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Right One Near Walnut Creek California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Walnut Creek CA may initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper 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 have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Walnut Creek CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from 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. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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  Walnut Creek CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Walnut Creek CA area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program 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 previously mentioned, 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Walnut Creek CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Walnut Creek CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Walnut Creek CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Walnut Creek CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of 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 probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Walnut Creek CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Walnut Creek CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Walnut Creek CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Walnut Creek

Enroll in the Best Walnut Creek Vet Technologist College

Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Walnut Creek California.

 

Walnut Creek Vet Tech Colleges | Walnut Creek Veterinary Technician Schools