Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near San Lorenzo California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near San Lorenzo CA might at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the San Lorenzo CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Lorenzo CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many San Lorenzo CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking 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 involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some San Lorenzo CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with San Lorenzo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the San Lorenzo CA veterinary community and has a considerable 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Lorenzo CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Lorenzo CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs 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 necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Lorenzo CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in San Lorenzo

Enroll in the Best San Lorenzo Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Lorenzo California.

 

San Lorenzo Vet Tech Colleges | San Lorenzo Veterinary Technician Schools