Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near San Leandro California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near San Leandro CA to achieve your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to 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 each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the San Leandro CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Leandro CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Leandro CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many San Leandro CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement 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 department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some San Leandro 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 may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with San Leandro CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the San Leandro CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Leandro CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Leandro 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a large 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 fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you 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 colleges you are evaluating 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 Leandro CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in San Leandro

Chosse the Right San Leandro Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Leandro California.

 

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