Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Brea California
Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Brea CA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.
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Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests 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 although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Brea CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Brea CA labs or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Brea CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Brea CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Brea CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Brea CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Brea CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Brea CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered 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 Brea CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large 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 fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Brea CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Brea
Enroll in the Best Brea Vet Technologist College
Picking the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative 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 colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Brea California.