Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Palo Alto California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Palo Alto CA could initially seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Palo Alto CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• 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 finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn 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 differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. 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 options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Palo Alto CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. 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 courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Palo Alto CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Palo Alto CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Palo Alto CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Palo Alto CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Palo Alto CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palo Alto CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Palo Alto CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Palo Alto CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Palo Alto

Enroll in the Right Palo Alto Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools 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 decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Palo Alto California.

 

Palo Alto Veterinary Technician Schools | Palo Alto Online Vet Tech Programs