Vet Technician College
How to Find the Right One Near Burlingame California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Burlingame CA to achieve your heartfelt goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Burlingame CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Burlingame CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Burlingame CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected 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 ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Burlingame CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin 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 online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Burlingame CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Burlingame CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Burlingame CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Burlingame CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Burlingame CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs 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 attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Burlingame CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Burlingame

Enroll in the Best Burlingame Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Burlingame California.

 

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