Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Lakewood California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Lakewood CA could at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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 if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Lakewood CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lakewood CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lakewood CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Lakewood CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Lakewood CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech 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 could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Lakewood CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lakewood CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some 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 qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lakewood CA home, you need to confirm 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 college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lakewood CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Lakewood

Chosse the Best Lakewood Vet Technologist College

Picking the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lakewood California.

 

Lakewood Vet Tech Colleges | Lakewood Veterinary Technician Schools