Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Right One Near El Cajon California

Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near El Cajon CA might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various responsibilities 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

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the El Cajon CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. 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 get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required 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 higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  El Cajon CA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local El Cajon CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure 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 practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the El Cajon CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of El Cajon CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College'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 schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some El Cajon CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with El Cajon CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low 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, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the El Cajon CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the El Cajon CA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your El Cajon 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near El Cajon CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in El Cajon

Chosse the Best El Cajon Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as 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 profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges 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 picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in El Cajon California.

 

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