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

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Jose CA could initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives 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 assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the San Jose CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Jose CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of 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 demanding screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Jose CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some San Jose CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Jose CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can 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 considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the San Jose CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Jose CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Jose CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Jose CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in San Jose

Chosse the Right San Jose Vet Technologist Program

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

 

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