Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Garden Acres California

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Garden Acres CA could initially feel like a daunting task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Garden Acres CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Garden Acres CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Garden Acres CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Garden Acres CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start 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 online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Garden Acres CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Garden Acres CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Garden Acres CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Garden Acres CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Garden Acres CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger 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 fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Garden Acres CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may 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 Vet Technician in Garden Acres

Enroll in the Right Garden Acres Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Garden Acres California.

 

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