Vet Technician College
How to Pick the Best One Near Burlingame California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Burlingame CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets might initially feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Burlingame CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Burlingame CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Burlingame CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Burlingame CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college 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 looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Burlingame CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Burlingame CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Burlingame CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Burlingame CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Burlingame CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into 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 school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college 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, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Burlingame CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Burlingame

Chosse the Right Burlingame Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burlingame California.

 

Burlingame Vet Tech Colleges | Burlingame Veterinary Technician Schools