Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near San Rafael California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near San Rafael CA could at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review 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 Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire 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 devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the San Rafael CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. 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 undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. Therefore 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive 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 alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Rafael CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Rafael CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many San Rafael CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some San Rafael CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with San Rafael CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean 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, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the San Rafael CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Rafael CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Rafael CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Rafael CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

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

Chosse the Best San Rafael Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Rafael California.

 

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