Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Sunnyvale California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Sunnyvale CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Sunnyvale CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Sunnyvale CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Sunnyvale CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Sunnyvale CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Sunnyvale CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Sunnyvale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Sunnyvale CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Sunnyvale CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Sunnyvale CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Sunnyvale CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Sunnyvale

Chosse the Right Sunnyvale Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Sunnyvale California.

 

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