Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Duarte California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Duarte CA to achieve your passionate desire to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated 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 share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Duarte CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion 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 veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Duarte CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Duarte CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Duarte CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Duarte CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Duarte CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial 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 job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Duarte CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Duarte CA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Duarte CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Duarte CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Duarte

Chosse the Best Duarte Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided 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 choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Duarte California.

 

Duarte Vet Tech Colleges | Duarte Veterinary Technician Schools