Veterinary Technician College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Fremont California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Fremont CA could initially seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Fremont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Fremont CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down 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 pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Fremont CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Fremont CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Fremont CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Fremont CA veterinarian community and has a considerable 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fremont CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Fremont CA home, you must make sure 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, 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 online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough 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 Fremont CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm 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 work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Fremont

Enroll in the Right Fremont Vet Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fremont California.

 

Fremont Vet Tech Colleges | Fremont Veterinary Technician Schools