Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near San Lorenzo California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near San Lorenzo CA to achieve your lifelong desire to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper selection? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share 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 Lorenzo CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational 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 involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An option that might 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 training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local San Lorenzo CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want 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 Lorenzo CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of San Lorenzo CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on 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 infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some San Lorenzo CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with San Lorenzo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied 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 may indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Lorenzo CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Lorenzo CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Lorenzo CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating 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 in the evenings near San Lorenzo CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

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

Enroll in the Best San Lorenzo Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. 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 animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Lorenzo California.

 

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