Vet Technician School
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Menlo Park California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Menlo Park CA could initially feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Menlo Park CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Menlo Park CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Menlo Park CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college 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 programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in 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 undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Menlo Park CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Menlo Park CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Menlo Park CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Menlo Park CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded 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 most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Menlo Park CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Menlo Park CA home, you must confirm 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 college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Menlo Park CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Menlo Park

Chosse the Best Menlo Park Vet Technologist School

Choosing the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to 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 duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Menlo Park California.

 

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