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

Choosing a veterinary technician school near San Jose CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs 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 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 support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through 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 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 associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Jose CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the San Jose CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many San Jose CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some San Jose CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with San Jose CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the San Jose CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well 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 in size, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Jose CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Jose CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Jose CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in San Jose

Chosse the Right San Jose Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Jose California.

 

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