Vet Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Stanford California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Stanford CA might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Stanford CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. 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 involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Stanford CA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Stanford CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Stanford CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Stanford CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. 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 suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Stanford CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  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 established with Stanford CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Stanford CA vet 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, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Stanford CA schools you are considering what their classroom 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 find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Stanford CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Stanford CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Stanford

Chosse the Best Stanford Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the right vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Stanford California.

 

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