Veterinary Technician School
How to Pick the Right One Near Woodland California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Woodland CA may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. 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, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several within 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 options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Woodland CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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  Woodland CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Woodland CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Woodland CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Woodland CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Woodland CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Woodland CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Woodland CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Woodland CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Woodland CA home, you must confirm that the driving 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, especially if the college is located close by or within 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 increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Woodland CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Woodland

Enroll in the Best Woodland Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Woodland California.

 

Woodland Veterinary Technician Schools | Woodland Online Vet Tech Programs