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

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Hayward CA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Hayward CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Hayward CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Hayward CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Hayward CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Hayward CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Hayward CA veterinary community and has a considerable 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 assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hayward CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hayward CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending 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 veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Hayward CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

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

Chosse the Right Hayward Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hayward California.

 

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