Veterinary Technician Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Hayward California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Hayward CA could initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Hayward CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two 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 basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So 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 possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs 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  Hayward CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Hayward CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you select 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Hayward CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Hayward CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Hayward CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Hayward CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hayward CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning 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?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Hayward CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into 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 close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will give you 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 exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Hayward CA. Others may 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. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Hayward

Chosse the Right Hayward Vet Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hayward California.

 

Hayward Vet Tech Colleges | Hayward Veterinary Technician Schools