Vet Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Menlo Park California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Menlo Park CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful 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. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Technician Education Options

One of 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 preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Menlo Park CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Menlo Park CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Menlo Park CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree 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 School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Menlo Park CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Menlo Park CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Menlo Park CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish 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 vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Menlo Park CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Menlo Park CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Menlo Park CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Menlo Park CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Menlo Park

Chosse the Best Menlo Park Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Menlo Park California.

 

Menlo Park Veterinary Technician Schools | Menlo Park Online Vet Tech Programs