Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near San Rafael California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near San Rafael CA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the San Rafael CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, 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 typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters 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 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Rafael CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of San Rafael CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some San Rafael CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with San Rafael CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the San Rafael CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Rafael CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 College Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Rafael CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Rafael CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in San Rafael

Enroll in the Right San Rafael Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools 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 handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included 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 selecting the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Rafael California.

 

San Rafael Vet Tech Colleges | San Rafael Veterinary Technician Schools