Veterinary Technician Program
How to Find the Right One Near Castaic California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Castaic CA could initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership 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 should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives 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 wish 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 invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Castaic CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination 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 receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Castaic CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Available

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Castaic CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Castaic CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree 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 looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Castaic CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on 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 regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Castaic CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Castaic CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Castaic CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Castaic CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Castaic CA home, you must confirm that the commuting 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out 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 attend classes on the weekends or at night near Castaic CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Castaic

Enroll in the Best Castaic Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Castaic California.

 

Castaic Veterinary Technician Schools | Castaic Online Vet Tech Programs