Vet Technician Training Program
How to Find the Best One Near Lakewood California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Lakewood CA could initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Lakewood CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational 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. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the main 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lakewood CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lakewood CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Lakewood CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Lakewood CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Lakewood CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lakewood CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lakewood CA home, you have 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lakewood CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Lakewood

Enroll in the Right Lakewood Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on several key issues. 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 when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lakewood California.

 

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