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

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Chatsworth CA could at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among 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 decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Chatsworth CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Chatsworth CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want 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 Chatsworth CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

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 stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Chatsworth CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking 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 infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Chatsworth CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Chatsworth CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Chatsworth CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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 in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Chatsworth CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 Campus Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Chatsworth CA home, you have to make sure 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 college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Chatsworth CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Chatsworth

Enroll in the Best Chatsworth Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Chatsworth California.

 

Chatsworth Vet Tech Colleges | Chatsworth Veterinary Technician Schools