Vet Technician School
How to Select the Right One Near Altadena California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Altadena CA might at first feel like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Altadena CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide 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 duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four 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 job opportunities, 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 can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Altadena CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Altadena CA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Altadena CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Altadena CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Altadena CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school 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 reviewing. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Altadena CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Altadena CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Altadena CA home, you must make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Altadena CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Altadena

Enroll in the Best Altadena Vet Technologist Program

Picking the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. 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 narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Altadena California.

 

Altadena Vet Tech Colleges | Altadena Veterinary Technician Schools