Veterinary Technician Program
How to Select the Best One Near Los Altos California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Los Altos CA could initially feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Los Altos CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, 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 standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• 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 finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Los Altos CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Los Altos CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Los Altos CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way 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 established with Los Altos CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Los Altos CA veterinarian community and has a substantial 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Los Altos CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 School Located?  Of course, we already discussed 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 Los Altos CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the college is located in or close by a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of 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 later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover 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 Technologist in Los Altos

Enroll in the Best Los Altos Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Los Altos California.

 

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