Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Cupertino California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Cupertino CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Cupertino CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required 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 urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Cupertino CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Cupertino CA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Cupertino CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Cupertino CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Cupertino CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Cupertino CA veterinary 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 assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Cupertino CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Cupertino CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Cupertino CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Cupertino

Enroll in the Best Cupertino Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges 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 decision. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Cupertino California.

 

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