Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Right One Near Lakewood California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Lakewood CA to fulfill your passionate desire to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference 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 specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Lakewood CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lakewood CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want 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 Lakewood CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Lakewood CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Lakewood CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Lakewood CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and help 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 begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Lakewood CA veterinarian community and has a considerable 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 Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lakewood CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors 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 make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lakewood CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lakewood CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Lakewood

Chosse the Best Lakewood Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lakewood California.

 

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