Vet Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Best One Near San Francisco California

Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near San Francisco CA may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means 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 location and cost. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the San Francisco CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Francisco CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of San Francisco CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some San Francisco CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with San Francisco CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Francisco CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Francisco CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Francisco CA home, you have to make sure that the driving 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Francisco CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in San Francisco

Enroll in the Best San Francisco Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Francisco California.

 

San Francisco Online Vet Tech Schools | San Francisco Vet Tech Schools