Veterinary Technician Program
How to Find the Best One Near Mountain View California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Mountain View CA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Mountain View CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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 associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent 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.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mountain View CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected 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 get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Mountain View CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Mountain View CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools 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 programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Mountain View CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Mountain View CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify 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 sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mountain View CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Mountain View CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mountain View CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Mountain View

Enroll in the Best Mountain View Vet Technologist College

Picking the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech 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 choice. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Mountain View California.

 

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