Vet Technician Degree
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Costa Mesa California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Costa Mesa CA might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the best choice? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. 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 factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Costa Mesa CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Costa Mesa CA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Costa Mesa CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Costa Mesa CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Costa Mesa CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Costa Mesa CA vet 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 assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Costa Mesa CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Costa Mesa CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 in or near 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 increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Costa Mesa CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Costa Mesa

Chosse the Right Costa Mesa Vet Technologist College

Selecting the right vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Costa Mesa California.

 

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