Vet Tech Schools near Palo Alto CA 94301

How to Select a Veterinary Assistant Training near Palo Alto California

Palo Alto CA vet tech holding dog during examAchieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinarian college near Palo Alto CA could at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet assistants and techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Tech and Assistant

Palo Alto CA vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyAmong the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Palo Alto CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Palo Alto CA. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain 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 duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated 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 urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in laboratories or Palo Alto CA area research facilities as well.

Online Vet Degree Programs

attending vet tech school online in Palo Alto CAAn approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Palo Alto CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician or assistant school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Assistant and Technician Colleges

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Palo Alto CAAt this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in California and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the Palo Alto CA vet assistant and technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It’s important that you verify that the veterinary tech or assistant school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected 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 verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Palo Alto CA veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Palo Alto CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with local veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local Palo Alto CA vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary assistant or technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum 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 high placement rate could signify that the Palo Alto CA school has an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palo Alto CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from work or home, you must make sure 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 Palo Alto CA campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose 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 option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it’s important that you determine if the California veterinary programs you are evaluating 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 at night. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered near Palo Alto CA prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Vet Assistant?

When preparing to interview for a veterinary job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask veterinary applicants is "What made you decide on veterinary care as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for being a veterinary technician, but also what qualities and abilities you have that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to veterinary care, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should ready a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Given that there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding vet tech and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but write down a few concepts and topics that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Vet Assistant Degree Program near Palo Alto CA

Enrolling in the appropriate vet assistant or tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary tech or assistant colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist in Palo Alto CA.

A Little Bit About Palo Alto CA

Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto (/ˌpæloʊ ˈæltoʊ/ PAL-oh AL-toh; Spanish: [ˈpalo ˈalto]; from palo, literally "stick", colloquially "tree", and alto "tall"; meaning: "tall tree") is a charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States.

Palo Alto was established by Leland Stanford Sr. when he founded Stanford University, following the death of his son, Leland Stanford Jr. The city includes portions of Stanford University and is headquarters to a number of high-technology companies, including Hewlett-Packard (HP), Space Systems/Loral, VMware, Tesla Motors, Ford Research and Innovation Center, PARC, IDEO, Skype, Palantir Technologies, and Houzz. It has also served as an incubator to several other high-technology companies such as Google,[7]Facebook, Logitech,[8]Intuit, Pinterest, and PayPal.

Palo Alto shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is named after a coast redwood tree called El Palo Alto.

 

 

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