Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near San Francisco California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near San Francisco CA could initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities 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 whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the San Francisco 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 veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent 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 involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Francisco CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Francisco CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of San Francisco CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some San Francisco CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Francisco CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the San Francisco CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Francisco CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Francisco CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in 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 provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at 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 at night near San Francisco CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in San Francisco

Chosse the Right San Francisco Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Francisco California.

 

San Francisco Veterinary Technician Schools | San Francisco Online Vet Tech Programs