Veterinary Technician College
How to Choose the Right One Near Long Beach California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Long Beach CA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives 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 want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Long Beach CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job 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 can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Long Beach CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Long Beach CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Long Beach CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Long Beach CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking 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 Long Beach CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Long Beach CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may 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 may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Long Beach CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Long Beach CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously talked about 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 Long Beach CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Long Beach CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Long Beach

Enroll in the Best Long Beach Vet Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Long Beach California.

 

Long Beach Veterinary Technician Schools | Long Beach Online Vet Tech Programs