Vet Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Cupertino California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Cupertino CA may at first feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Cupertino CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Cupertino CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Cupertino CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Cupertino CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Cupertino CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Cupertino CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Cupertino CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Cupertino CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Cupertino CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located in or near a large 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 higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Cupertino CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or 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 might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Cupertino

Enroll in the Right Cupertino Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Cupertino California.

 

Cupertino Vet Tech Programs | Cupertino How To Become A Vet Tech