Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Best One Near Fontana California
Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Fontana CA may initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the best selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Tech Training Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Fontana CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fontana CA labs or research facilities also.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian 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 veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Fontana CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Fontana CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college 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 interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Fontana CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Fontana CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can 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 could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Fontana CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Fontana CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Fontana CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Fontana CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Fontana
Chosse the Best Fontana Veterinary Technologist College
Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fontana California.