Vet Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near San Mateo California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near San Mateo CA could initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the San Mateo CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent 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 included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. So 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 work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Mateo CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many San Mateo CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some San Mateo CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with San Mateo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school 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 could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the San Mateo CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate 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 bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Mateo CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Mateo CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Mateo CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in San Mateo

Enroll in the Best San Mateo Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. 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 choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Mateo California.

 

San Mateo Vet Tech Colleges | San Mateo Veterinary Technician Schools