Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Lomita California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Lomita CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and care for animals may from the start feel like an enormous challenge. 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 education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Lomita CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs 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  Lomita CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lomita CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded 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 receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Lomita CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Lomita CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Lomita CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lomita CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lomita CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lomita CA home, you need to make sure that the driving 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, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lomita CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Lomita

Chosse the Right Lomita Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lomita California.

 

Lomita Vet Tech Colleges | Lomita Veterinary Technician Schools