Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Burlingame California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Burlingame CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably 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 licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Burlingame CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar 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 usually takes 4 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 opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Burlingame CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Burlingame CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Burlingame CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential 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 regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Burlingame CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Burlingame CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Burlingame CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Burlingame CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Burlingame CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Burlingame CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Burlingame CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Burlingame

Enroll in the Best Burlingame Vet Technologist College

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burlingame California.

 

Burlingame Veterinary Technician Schools | Burlingame Online Vet Tech Programs