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

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Los Altos CA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are reviewing. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can carry out within the Los Altos CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements 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 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Los Altos CA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Los Altos CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Los Altos CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for 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 school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Los Altos CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet 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 grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Los Altos CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about 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. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Los Altos CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Los Altos CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Los Altos CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Los Altos CA home, you must 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Los Altos CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Los Altos

Enroll in the Right Los Altos Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs 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 choice. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Los Altos California.

 

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