Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Redwood City California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Redwood City CA might initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Redwood City CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and generally obtain 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 basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians 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  Redwood City CA labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An option that may be a solution 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 through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Redwood City CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Redwood City CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of 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 verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Redwood City CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips 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 violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Redwood City CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Redwood City CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial 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 employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Redwood City CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly 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 bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Redwood City CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Redwood City CA home, you must confirm that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, 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 particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Redwood City CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Redwood City

Chosse the Right Redwood City Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Redwood City California.

 

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