Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Best One Near Menlo Park California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Menlo Park CA to achieve your passionate 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 need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Menlo Park CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program 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 should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Menlo Park CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Menlo Park CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Menlo Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Menlo Park CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Menlo Park CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Menlo Park CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary 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. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Menlo Park

Enroll in the Right Menlo Park Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Menlo Park California.

 

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