Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Best One Near Palo Alto California

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Palo Alto CA might initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can carry out 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 may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Palo Alto CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Palo Alto CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Palo Alto CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Palo Alto CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Palo Alto CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Palo Alto CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean 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 most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palo Alto CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Palo Alto CA home, you must 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 choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Palo Alto CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm 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 veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Palo Alto

Chosse the Best Palo Alto Vet Technologist School

Choosing the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Palo Alto California.

 

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