Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near El Segundo California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near El Segundo CA may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. After they have located some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied roles 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

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the El Segundo CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local El Segundo CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive 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 Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the El Segundo CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of El Segundo CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on 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 violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some El Segundo CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools 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 clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with El Segundo CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed 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 might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the El Segundo CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure 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 El Segundo CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your El Segundo CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, 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 community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near El Segundo CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in El Segundo

Enroll in the Right El Segundo Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, 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 goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in El Segundo California.

 

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