Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Los Altos California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Los Altos CA to achieve your passionate goal to work with and care for animals might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Los Altos CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

• 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Los Altos CA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Los Altos CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Los Altos CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Los Altos CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Los Altos CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

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

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Los Altos CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify 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 larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Los Altos CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get 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?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Los Altos CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college 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, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 Los Altos CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Los Altos

Chosse the Right Los Altos Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Los Altos California.

 

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