Vet Technician College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near El Segundo California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near El Segundo CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for animals might initially feel like an enormous challenge. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the El Segundo CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the El Segundo CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed 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 want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many El Segundo CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some El Segundo CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with El Segundo CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the El Segundo CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could 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 larger sized, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the El Segundo CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your El Segundo CA home, you need to make sure 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 in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near El Segundo CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in El Segundo

Enroll in the Best El Segundo Vet Technologist School

Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in El Segundo California.

 

El Segundo Vet Tech Schools Near Me | El Segundo Vet Tech Programs