Veterinary Technician Training
How to Pick the Best One Near San Rafael California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Rafael CA might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the San Rafael CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two 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 duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An option that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local San Rafael CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. 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 manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Rafael CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many San Rafael CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet 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 looking on 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 grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some San Rafael CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with San Rafael CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching 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 placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the San Rafael CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well 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 sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Rafael CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive 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 example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Rafael CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in San Rafael

Enroll in the Right San Rafael Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Rafael California.

 

San Rafael Veterinary Technician Schools | San Rafael Online Vet Tech Programs