Vet Technician School
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Duarte California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Duarte CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.
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Vet Technician Training Options
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote 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 all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Duarte CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So 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 work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Duarte CA labs or research facilities also.
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Duarte CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, 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 thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Duarte CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Duarte CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Duarte CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Duarte CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Duarte CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Duarte CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt 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 option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Duarte CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before 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 best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Duarte
Enroll in the Right Duarte Veterinary Technologist School
Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Duarte California.