Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Right One Near San Francisco California

Finding a veterinary technician school near San Francisco CA to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might 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 specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the San Francisco CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local San Francisco CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Francisco CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Francisco CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some San Francisco CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with San Francisco CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may 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 lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the San Francisco CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Francisco CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Francisco CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose 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. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering 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 in the evenings near San Francisco CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in San Francisco

Chosse the Right San Francisco Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Francisco California.

 

San Francisco Vet Tech Programs | San Francisco How To Become A Vet Tech