Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Lancaster California

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lancaster CA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Lancaster CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lancaster CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select 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 need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected 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 obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lancaster CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary 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 checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Lancaster CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Lancaster CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Lancaster CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lancaster CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lancaster CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lancaster CA. Others may only be able to go to class 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 because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Lancaster

Chosse the Best Lancaster Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lancaster California.

 

Lancaster Vet Tech Colleges | Lancaster Veterinary Technician Schools