Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
- Which program, the AS degree or certificate should the student enroll in?
- How long will the program take to complete?
- Are there any limitations (day, evening, part-time) as to how or when students can complete this program?
- What opportunities are there for obtaining credit for other training (military, private vocational schools, apprenticeship, etc.) Or substituting work experience for major requirements?
- Are there any costs beyond enrollment fees and text books for things such as uniforms, material and lab fees, insurance, tools, etc.?
- What teaching formats such as online, televised, lecture and laboratory are used to deliver instruction?
- What are the instructional facilities (classrooms, labs, etc?) like?
- What general skill levels (english, math and computer) are recommended for entry -level coursework and to progress satisfactorily?
- What are common advising issues in this program that counselors should know about?
- What is the nature of any required practicum or field experience in this program?
- What does it feel like to be a student in this program?
- Are there any special scholarships available to students in this program?
Answers
WHICH PROGRAM, THE A.S. DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE SHOULD THE STUDENT ENROLL IN?
There are two programs, one a AS degree and the other a certificate program. The certificate is only appropriate for those with extensive (3 years) qualifying previous experience in the field. For most, the AS will be needed in order to sit for the registration exam. Students completing the certificate program may not be eligible to sit for licensing exams outside of California without additional classes.
HOW LONG WILL THE PROGRAM TAKE TO COMPLETE?
Considering the length of time that it could take to complete the necessary prerequisite classes, it could take up to three years to complete the program.
ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS (day, evening, part-time) AS TO HOW OR WHEN STUDENTS CAN COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM?
Yes. This program is day time only and on a strict schedule in terms of course offerings. VT courses are offered only once per year during the Spring or Fall semester.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR OBTAINING CREDIT FOR OTHER TRAINING (military, private vocational schools, apprenticeship, etc.) OR SUBSTITUTING WORK EXPERIENCE FOR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS?
It is very unlikely that any credit will be granted for such training or experience according to the department.
ARE THERE ANY COSTS BEYOND ENROLLMENT FEES AND TEXT BOOKS FOR THINGS SUCH AS UNIFORMS, MATERIAL AND LAB FEES, INSURANCE, TOOLS, ETC.?
Yes. The student would need to purchase a set of “scrubs”. A good stethoscope is recommended although not required. Students will also need to purchase microscope slides and cover slips for use during labs.
WHAT TEACHING FORMATS SUCH AS ONLINE, TELEVISED, LECTURE AND LABORATORY ARE USED TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION?
All classes are now web-enhanced and use the Blackboard system. None are televised and, of course, there is a lot of laboratory.
WHAT ARE THE INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES (classrooms, labs, etc?) LIKE?
The classroom is multimedia and the clinical facilities offer cadavers for dissection, skeletons and the ability to do lab screenings, surgeries and radiology. We maintain a colony of dogs and cats which are vaccinated and neutered in our labs. (Surgery is done only by Dr. Impinna!) At the end of the year the dogs and cats are adopted out to new homes. Having the animals here provides ample opportunity for students to learn the required healthcare procedures. Our students also get experience with dental care.
WHAT GENERAL SKILL LEVELS (English, math and computer) ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL COURSEWORK AND TO PROGRESS SATISFACTORILY?
You must be a good science student to make it through the prerequisites and the program itself. Basic web skills will be useful also. You should also be at an intermediate algebra level with your math skills because of the pharmacology calculations you must do on a daily basis.
WHAT ARE COMMON ADVISING ISSUES IN THIS PROGRAM THAT COUNSELORS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
Carolyn Abrams, the Vet Tech counselor, suggests that counselors advise interested students to obtain “hands-on” experience before they enter the program. This will give them a much better understanding of what lies ahead for them. Given the amount of preparation needed to be eligible to enter the program, this is really a three year program. If students are completing the AS program and are missing anything, even 1 unit of PE towards the degree, they will not be eligible to sit for the exam until the degree is completed.
Many of our Veterinary Technology students come from out of the area to attend and many are parents so warn them of the strenuous nature of this program. The workload is equivalent to that of a nursing curriculum. In addition to the prerequisite coursework, suggest that they finish their GE before beginning the major so that they can concentrate on it. The Veterinary Technology course-work is so intense that the student will find it difficult to work more than 15 to 20 hours per week.
Remember that this is not “pre-vet” education so clarify this point to the student when you question them regarding their long-term career plans. Should they decide to go this route, it will take them an extra 2 to three years at least to get their BS degree, because the VT courses are not transferable.
Be aware that the certificate is only for those with three years of verifiable experience. Most students will pursue the degree to access registration in California.
The prerequisites are all traditional transfer level courses so you should have no trouble determining equivalencies. Knowledge of CAN numbers and how the courses are used by the school of origin in major and transfer programs will guide you. Currency of the Biology knowledge can be an issue as those with weak Biology knowledge will likely struggle to pass the advanced classes such as VT 122, Animal Disease and Pathology.
Students should not be sent to the instructor for permission to enter the program. They apply for admission and the Vet Tech counselor helps to screen them. Students who have been screened into the program will be given permission numbers which allow them to register.
If applicant numbers are low, the program may allow applicants to have courses in progress during the summer session prior to beginning the program in the Fall.
The Work Experience units required for the major will also fulfill part of the Living Skills requirement.
After admission, the student must get a “C” in each course to progress. Since the courses are on a strict annual rotation, failure to earn a “C” will put them out of sequence for an entire year. Microbiology is not really needed until they get into the VT 120 series so they can take it in the summer if they have to.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF ANY REQUIRED PRACTICUM OR FIELD EXPERIENCE IN THIS PROGRAM?
How many hours and during what part of the day is this?
You will earn two units for the internship and it is a minimum of 150 hours (most students get considerably more hours). Most are paid also. If a student volunteers, the school’s liability insurance will cover them for injury.Does the college or program find the site for the student?
Students normally develop their own placements and these are primarily at private vet hospitals. Some have done theirs at UCD. Almost any site is suitable provided that there is a licensed veterinarian on staff.Is there a cost associated with the field experience?
Only if the student does not have a uniform. They must pay the Work Experience tuition costs and attend the WE class.Mandatory “kennel” time
Each student must put in three days per month caring for the animals in the kennels. Students rotate responsibility for caring for the colony animals which include, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, turtles, birds and rodents in addition to the dogs and cats. They may be scheduled as often as twice weekly to three times a month depending on the class size. Each shift is about 2 hours long and can be as early as 6-8 am or 3-5 pm. The animals must be fed twice daily 7 days/week and must be cared for during the semester break. All continuing students are scheduled to work caring for the animals over break.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE A STUDENT IN THIS PROGRAM?
What is the classroom culture like?
Since the Vet Tech students move through the program as a "cohort", they develop strong camaraderie. They work in groups all the time and learn to get along as a team and to multi-task. The clinical classes are very practical and hands-on in nature. Our students get a great deal of practice doing important procedures such as the lab where they learn to count white blood cells. The comments that roll around the room during such a lab go like this:Student: “Am I doing something wrong?” (heard several times)
Dr. Impinna or Cheryl Buch: “Make a hole in the top of the reservoir…there, turn the tube (full of blood) on its’ side…now, wiggle the pipette and it will stop by itself.”
Student: “Hah, I got it!”
Dr. Impinna: “In a ten minute time, you should be doing a cbc and protein.”The Veterinary Technician needs to be able to do these kinds of tests for their Veterinarian or to verify or check outside lab results. It will be done while trying to balance all of the other things that the Tech does in a day so they need to be skilled at it. Veterinarians are surprised to learn the extent of the clinical experience that our students are getting.
Who are our Veterinary Technology students?
Roughly 50% already have their BA or BS degrees! The current (2007) class includes students with a Ph.d and one who has worked as a wildlife biologist. Many of them travel from out of the Sacramento area to attend the program. It is a heavily female student body and many are married and balancing work and family responsibilities with the program.What is the nature of the relationships between students and between the students and professor?
Dr. Impinna says that his teaching at CRC is “way more” hands-on than when he taught in the science curriculum at ARC. Because he has an extensive veterinary practice background, he can bring a strong practicality to the labs. He uses lots of demonstrations and provides practical tips. Cheryl Buch, the teaching assistant, and an RVT, has worked in a wide variety of areas in the veterinary community including shelter medicine, research, avian and exotic medicine as well as traditional dog and cat medicine. She has also worked in the ICU at the UC Davis Vet Med Teaching Hospital, so brings a lot of experience to share with the students.We currently also benefit from highly skilled adjunct faculty who can teach their specialties such as infectious diseases and pathology, large animals and laboratory animal and caged birds. The program works with the UCD Veterinary program to provide experience with large animals.
What do students have to say about this program?
Students are amazed at the amount of knowledge they acquire in the program. They are frequently able to compare their training to that of others trained in other programs or to assistants who were trained on the job. The level of knowledge they have far exceeds that of other assistants. Other programs do not offer the degree of hands-on learning that is offered here so our students are better prepared to begin work in the “real world”.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL CERTIFICATION EXAMS THAT GRADUATES MUST OR CAN TAKE?
Veterinary Assistants do not need to be registered but only registered technicians can do the full array of procedures so registration is highly desirable. Only graduates with an AS degree (or qualified certificate holders) in Veterinary Technology can sit for the registration exam. Our students are well schooled to pass the exam offered by the state board www.vmb.ca.gov/exam/schedule.htm
Are there costs associated with these?
The cost is $75.00 for the exam, and candidates must be fingerprinted so must pay those costs as well. Should they decide to sit for the National Veterinary Technician Exam (to be licensed outside of California) the cost is $150.00 for the exam.Are there any physical or legal limitations (immigration status, felony or misdemeanor convictions, etc.) to licensing?
Felony convictions require a review.How well do CRC graduates do on these exams?
CRC graduates average from 75 to100% pass rate from year to year.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM?
Yes. There are about six to eight per year.