Veterinary Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Glendale California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Glendale CA could at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Glendale CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference 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 also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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  Glendale CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Glendale CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Glendale CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Glendale CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Glendale CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Glendale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Glendale CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate 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 most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Glendale CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Glendale CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 in or close by a larger 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. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Glendale CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Glendale

Chosse the Right Glendale Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Glendale California.

 

Glendale Veterinary Technician Schools | Glendale Online Vet Tech Programs