Vet Technician Training
How to Select the Best One Near Lawndale California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lawndale CA could initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. 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 responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Lawndale CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four 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 work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lawndale CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Lawndale CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Lawndale CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Lawndale CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through 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 a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lawndale CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lawndale CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk 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 previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lawndale CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose 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. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lawndale CA. Others may only be able to go to 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 might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Lawndale

Chosse the Right Lawndale Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lawndale California.

 

Lawndale Vet Tech Colleges | Lawndale Veterinary Technician Schools