Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near El Cajon California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near El Cajon CA might at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the El Cajon CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all 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 vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  El Cajon CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local El Cajon CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the El Cajon CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of El Cajon CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, call some El Cajon CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more 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 setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with El Cajon CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the El Cajon CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the El Cajon CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your El Cajon CA home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are looking at 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 at night near El Cajon CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in El Cajon

Chosse the Right El Cajon Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in El Cajon California.

 

El Cajon Veterinary Technician Schools | El Cajon Online Vet Tech Programs