Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Claremont California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Claremont CA to fulfill your passionate desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Claremont CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Claremont CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Claremont CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician college 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 undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Claremont CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Claremont CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Claremont CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through 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 veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Claremont CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Claremont CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Claremont CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Claremont CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Claremont

Enroll in the Best Claremont Vet Technologist Program

Picking the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, 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 programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Claremont California.

 

Claremont Vet Tech Colleges | Claremont Veterinary Technician Schools