Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Foster City California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Foster City CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Foster City CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire 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 vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required 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. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Foster City CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential 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 veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Foster City CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential 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 school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Foster City CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Foster City CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Foster City CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Foster City CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly 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 may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Foster City CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Foster City CA home, you must make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Foster City CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Foster City

Enroll in the Right Foster City Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Foster City California.

 

Foster City Vet Tech Colleges | Foster City Veterinary Technician Schools