Vet Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Laguna Hills California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Laguna Hills CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for our pets might from the start seem like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Laguna Hills CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Laguna Hills CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Laguna Hills CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Laguna Hills CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Laguna Hills CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Laguna Hills CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Laguna Hills CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Laguna Hills CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Laguna Hills CA home, you need to make sure 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, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased 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 reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Laguna Hills CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Laguna Hills

Enroll in the Best Laguna Hills Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for 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 choice. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Laguna Hills California.

 

Laguna Hills Vet Tech Colleges | Laguna Hills Veterinary Technician Schools