Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Fountain Valley California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Fountain Valley CA might initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Fountain Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• 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 completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Fountain Valley CA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Fountain Valley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Fountain Valley CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Fountain Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed 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 may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Fountain Valley CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fountain Valley CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Fountain Valley CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit 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 Fountain Valley CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm 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 illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Fountain Valley

Chosse the Right Fountain Valley Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fountain Valley California.

 

Fountain Valley Vet Tech Colleges | Fountain Valley Veterinary Technician Schools