Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near La Habra California

Finding a veterinary technician school near La Habra CA to fulfill your lifelong desire to work with and care for animals may from the start seem like an enormous task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the La Habra CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  La Habra CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local La Habra 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 costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. 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 independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the La Habra CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of La Habra CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some La Habra CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with La Habra CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the La Habra CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the La Habra CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your La Habra CA home, you have to make sure that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near La Habra CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in La Habra

Enroll in the Best La Habra Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in La Habra California.

 

La Habra Vet Tech Programs | La Habra How To Become A Vet Tech