Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Half Moon Bay California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Half Moon Bay CA to fulfill your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss 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 Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Half Moon Bay CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions 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 to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Half Moon Bay CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Half Moon Bay CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School'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 looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking 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 specific schools. As a final tip, call some Half Moon Bay CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools 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 medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Half Moon Bay CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Half Moon Bay CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Half Moon Bay CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Half Moon Bay CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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 college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough 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 Half Moon Bay CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Half Moon Bay

Chosse the Best Half Moon Bay Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Half Moon Bay California.

 

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