Veterinary Technician College
How to Enroll In the Best One Near San Mateo California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Mateo CA might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the San Mateo CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent 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 involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four 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 potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer 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 Mateo CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of San Mateo CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking 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 concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some San Mateo CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with San Mateo CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. 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 valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the San Mateo CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Mateo CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Mateo CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Mateo CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

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

Chosse the Best San Mateo Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools 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 choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Mateo California.

 

San Mateo Online Vet Tech Schools | San Mateo Vet Tech Schools