Vet Technician Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Fountain Valley California

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Fountain Valley CA may initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Tech Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Fountain Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Fountain Valley CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Fountain Valley CA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Fountain Valley CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with 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 complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Fountain Valley CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Fountain Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Fountain Valley CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Fountain Valley CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Fountain Valley CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by 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 higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet programs you are considering 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 Fountain Valley 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 available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Fountain Valley

Chosse the Best Fountain Valley Vet Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics 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 field. This goes for online vet tech 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 choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Fountain Valley California.

 

Fountain Valley Vet Tech Programs | Fountain Valley How To Become A Vet Tech