Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Los Gatos California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Los Gatos CA to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and care for animals might initially seem like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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 need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit 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 all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Los Gatos CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. 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 career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Los Gatos CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Los Gatos CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Los Gatos 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 suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical 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 arranged with Los Gatos CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Los Gatos CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Los Gatos CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Los Gatos CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Los Gatos CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Los Gatos

Chosse the Best Los Gatos Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Los Gatos California.

 

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