Veterinary Technician Training
How to Choose the Best One Near Burbank California

Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Burbank CA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Burbank CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Burbank CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Burbank CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want 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 vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Burbank CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Burbank CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Burbank CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Burbank CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Burbank CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Burbank CA home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Burbank CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Burbank

Enroll in the Best Burbank Vet Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Burbank California.

 

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