Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Best One Near San Bruno California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near San Bruno CA could at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the San Bruno CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone 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 involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared 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 veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Bruno CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Bruno CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many San Bruno CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some San Bruno CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs 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 colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with San Bruno CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the San Bruno CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective 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. Request from the San Bruno CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Bruno CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Bruno CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in San Bruno

Chosse the Best San Bruno Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Bruno California.

 

San Bruno Vet Tech Colleges | San Bruno Veterinary Technician Schools