Vet Technician Training
How to Find the Best One Near Los Gatos California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Los Gatos CA could at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Los Gatos CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed 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 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 tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians 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 Gatos CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study 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 part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Los Gatos CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Los Gatos CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Los Gatos CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. 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 suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Los Gatos CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Los Gatos CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Los Gatos CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Los Gatos CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Los Gatos CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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 school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, 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 essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Los Gatos CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Los Gatos

Chosse the Right Los Gatos Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential 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 alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Los Gatos California.

 

Los Gatos Veterinary Technician Schools | Los Gatos Online Vet Tech Programs