Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Find the Right One Near Santa Clara California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Santa Clara CA to achieve your passionate goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals might initially feel like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians 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 initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Santa Clara CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Santa Clara CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An option 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 program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Clara CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm 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 furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Clara CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Santa Clara CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Santa Clara CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Santa Clara CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Clara CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly 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 most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Clara CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Santa Clara CA home, you need to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Clara CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Santa Clara

Enroll in the Right Santa Clara Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Clara California.

 

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