Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Select the Right One Near Canoga Park California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Canoga Park CA to achieve your passionate goal to work with and care for animals may from the start feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical 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 idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Canoga Park CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Canoga Park CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Canoga Park CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Canoga Park CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 demanding review process that ensures 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 obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Canoga Park CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Canoga Park CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Canoga Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Canoga Park CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded 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 probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Canoga Park CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Canoga Park CA home, you have to make certain 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, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Canoga Park CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Canoga Park

Chosse the Right Canoga Park Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on multiple 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 as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Canoga Park California.

 

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