Vet Technician Training
How to Find the Best One Near Garden Grove California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Garden Grove CA might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not 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 cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Garden Grove 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 technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the only real 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Garden Grove CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Garden Grove CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want 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 technical schools in the Garden Grove CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade 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 important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Garden Grove CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Garden Grove CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges 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 clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Garden Grove CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Garden Grove CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Garden Grove CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered 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 Garden Grove CA home, you must 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within 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 community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Garden Grove CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Garden Grove

Chosse the Right Garden Grove Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Garden Grove California.

 

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