Vet Technician School
How to Enroll In the Right One Near San Jose California

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Jose CA may at first feel like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final decision. 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 vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization 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 while there are many jobs that they can perform within the San Jose CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain 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 fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist 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 exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Jose CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered 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 essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of San Jose CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some San Jose CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with San Jose CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the San Jose CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Jose CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding 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 previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Jose CA home, you must make certain 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, especially if the school is located near or in a larger 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 charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Jose CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out 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 school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in San Jose

Enroll in the Best San Jose Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal 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 imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Jose California.

 

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