Vet Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Saratoga California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Saratoga CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. When they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Saratoga CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced 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 sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So 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 career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Saratoga CA labs or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Saratoga CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Saratoga CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Saratoga CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Saratoga CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Saratoga CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Saratoga CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Saratoga CA home, you must confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring 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 at night near Saratoga CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Saratoga

Enroll in the Right Saratoga Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Saratoga California.

 

Saratoga Vet Tech Colleges | Saratoga Veterinary Technician Schools