Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Lakeside California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Lakeside CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially seem like an enormous task. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Lakeside CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lakeside CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want 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, trade and vocational schools in the Lakeside CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Lakeside CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Lakeside CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Lakeside CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Lakeside CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lakeside CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lakeside CA home, you must make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lakeside CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Lakeside

Enroll in the Right Lakeside Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals 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 schools 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 selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lakeside California.

 

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