Vet Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Downey California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Downey CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to help and care for our pets might initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Tech Degree Options
Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Downey CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Downey CA labs or research facilities also.
Online Vet Tech Schools Offered
An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Downey CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Downey CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet 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, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Downey CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating 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 violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Downey CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Downey CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Downey CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly 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, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Downey CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations 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 College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Downey CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Downey CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Downey
Enroll in the Best Downey Veterinary Technologist College
Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Downey California.