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

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Rafael CA could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the San Rafael CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number 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

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Rafael CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Rafael CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some San Rafael CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Rafael CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the San Rafael CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Rafael CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Rafael CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

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

Enroll in the Best San Rafael Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Rafael California.

 

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