Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Camp Pendleton South California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Camp Pendleton South CA might initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent 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 techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Camp Pendleton South CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Camp Pendleton South CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Camp Pendleton South CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Camp Pendleton South CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Camp Pendleton South CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate 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 a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Camp Pendleton South CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Camp Pendleton South CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on 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 instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Camp Pendleton South CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Camp Pendleton South CA. Others 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 before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Camp Pendleton South

Enroll in the Right Camp Pendleton South Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included 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 picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Camp Pendleton South California.

 

Camp Pendleton South Vet Tech Colleges | Camp Pendleton South Veterinary Technician Schools