Veterinary Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Sunnyvale California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Sunnyvale CA might at first feel like a challenging task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Sunnyvale CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the main 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 mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Sunnyvale CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Sunnyvale CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Sunnyvale CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Sunnyvale CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Sunnyvale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied 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 indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Sunnyvale CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Sunnyvale CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Sunnyvale CA home, you must make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sunnyvale CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Sunnyvale

Chosse the Right Sunnyvale Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician 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 commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Sunnyvale California.

 

Sunnyvale Online Vet Tech Schools | Sunnyvale Vet Tech Schools