Veterinary Technician College
How to Pick the Best One Near Redwood City California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Redwood City CA to fulfill your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Redwood City CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists 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 training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade 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 tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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  Redwood City CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Redwood City CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Redwood City CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Redwood City CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Redwood City CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Redwood City CA vet community and has a substantial 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 get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redwood City CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Redwood City CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Redwood City CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Redwood City

Chosse the Right Redwood City Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Redwood City California.

 

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