Vet Technician School
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Chatsworth California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Chatsworth CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets might from the start feel like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to 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 veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan 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 invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Chatsworth CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Chatsworth CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Chatsworth CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, 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 in many cases a requirement for employment for many Chatsworth CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Chatsworth CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Chatsworth CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Chatsworth CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Chatsworth CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning 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 School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Chatsworth CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into 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, particularly if the school is located in or near 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 costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Chatsworth CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Chatsworth

Enroll in the Best Chatsworth Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech programs need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Chatsworth California.

 

Chatsworth Veterinary Technician Schools | Chatsworth Online Vet Tech Programs