Vet Technician Degree
How to Find the Best One Near Claremont California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Claremont CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and care for our pets might from the start feel like an overwhelming challenge. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical 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 point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various duties 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 initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Claremont CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction 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 possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered

An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Claremont CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized 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 independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Claremont CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Claremont CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating 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 violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Claremont CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Claremont CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Claremont CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Claremont CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Claremont CA home, you have to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Claremont CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Claremont

Chosse the Right Claremont Vet Technologist Program

Picking the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in 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 assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Claremont California.

 

Claremont Veterinary Technician Schools | Claremont Online Vet Tech Programs