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

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near San Mateo CA could initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary 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 discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the San Mateo CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local San Mateo CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college 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 Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college 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 Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of San Mateo CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some San Mateo CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with San Mateo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the San Mateo CA veterinarian 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 placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Mateo CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Mateo CA home, you have 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 campus is located near or in a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are looking at 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 might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in San Mateo

Enroll in the Right San Mateo Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Mateo California.

 

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