Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near South San Francisco California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near South San Francisco CA may initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can perform within the South San Francisco CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  South San Francisco CA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An option that may be a solution 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 made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local South San Francisco CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the South San Francisco CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of South San Francisco CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some South San Francisco CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with South San Francisco CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the South San Francisco 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 assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South San Francisco CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your South San Francisco CA home, you need to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near South San Francisco CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in South San Francisco

Enroll in the Right South San Francisco Vet Technologist School

Selecting the right vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in South San Francisco California.

 

South San Francisco Vet Tech Programs | South San Francisco How To Become A Vet Tech