Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Castro Valley California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Castro Valley CA to fulfill your passionate goal to help and care for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Castro Valley 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 vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Castro Valley CA labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Castro Valley CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain 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 clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Castro Valley CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting 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 college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Castro Valley CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Castro Valley CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Castro Valley CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Castro Valley CA veterinarian 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 bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Castro Valley CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Castro Valley CA home, you must confirm that the commuting 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. 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Castro Valley CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Castro Valley

Enroll in the Best Castro Valley Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Castro Valley California.

 

Castro Valley Vet Tech Programs | Castro Valley How To Become A Vet Tech