Vet Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Mountain View California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Mountain View CA might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Mountain View CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced 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 registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Mountain View CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Mountain View CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Mountain View CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Mountain View CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet 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 infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Mountain View CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Mountain View CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Mountain View CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mountain View CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Mountain View CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Mountain View CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Mountain View

Chosse the Best Mountain View Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mountain View California.

 

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