Vet Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Hillsborough California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Hillsborough CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties 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 initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Hillsborough CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Hillsborough CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hillsborough CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Hillsborough CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating 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 infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Hillsborough CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Hillsborough CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some 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 outstanding reputation within the Hillsborough CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hillsborough CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hillsborough CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out 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. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Hillsborough CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Hillsborough

Chosse the Best Hillsborough Vet Technologist College

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Hillsborough California.

 

Hillsborough Vet Tech Colleges | Hillsborough Veterinary Technician Schools