Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near San Ramon California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near San Ramon CA might initially feel like a challenging task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians 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 jobs that they can carry out within the San Ramon CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main 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 possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree 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 veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Ramon CA area as well as across the Country, 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 tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a program 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 veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Ramon CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some San Ramon CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with San Ramon CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the San Ramon CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Ramon CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Ramon CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Ramon CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in San Ramon

Chosse the Right San Ramon Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs 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 choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Ramon California.

 

San Ramon Vet Tech Colleges | San Ramon Veterinary Technician Schools