Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Glendale California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Glendale CA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Glendale CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher 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. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Glendale CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Glendale CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 a thorough review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Glendale CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary 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 suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Glendale CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Glendale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Glendale CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

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

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glendale CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Glendale CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require 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 solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Glendale

Enroll in the Right Glendale Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Glendale California.

 

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