Veterinary Technician Program
How to Select the Best One Near San Jose California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near San Jose CA to achieve your lifelong goal to work with and care for our pets may from the start feel like an enormous task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal selection? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects 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 explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out 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 vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as 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 gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential 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 anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Jose CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local San Jose CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the San Jose CA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many San Jose CA area vet 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 begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers 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 grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some San Jose CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Jose CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the San Jose CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Jose CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Jose CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

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

Enroll in the Right San Jose Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Jose California.

 

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