Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Antelope California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Antelope CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Antelope CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Antelope CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Antelope CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. 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 tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Antelope CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Antelope CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Antelope CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Antelope CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Antelope CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Antelope CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Antelope

Enroll in the Best Antelope Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools 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 choice. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Antelope California.

 

Antelope Vet Tech Colleges | Antelope Veterinary Technician Schools