Vet Technician Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Lompoc California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Lompoc CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially seem like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Lompoc CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases 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 community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts 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, such as assisting with surgeries or administering 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 mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lompoc CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lompoc CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Lompoc CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Lompoc CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Lompoc CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lompoc CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lompoc CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lompoc CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting 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 close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lompoc CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in Lompoc

Chosse the Right Lompoc Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. 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 options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lompoc California.

 

Lompoc Veterinary Technician Schools | Lompoc Online Vet Tech Programs