Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Irvine California
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Irvine CA to achieve your passionate desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.
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Vet Tech Education Options
One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Irvine CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Irvine CA laboratories or research facilities also.
Online Vet Tech Schools Offered
An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Irvine CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Irvine CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Irvine CA area veterinary practices 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 community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Irvine CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Irvine CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Irvine CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Irvine CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Irvine CA home, you need to make certain 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school 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 alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Irvine CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.
Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Irvine
Chosse the Best Irvine Vet Technologist College
Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided 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 best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Irvine California.