Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near San Carlos California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near San Carlos CA may at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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 plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the San Carlos CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive 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 position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain 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 duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Carlos CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many San Carlos CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some San Carlos CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with San Carlos CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Carlos CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Carlos CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Carlos CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Carlos CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in San Carlos

Enroll in the Right San Carlos Vet Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Carlos California.

 

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