Vet Technician College
How to Pick the Best One Near Los Angeles California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Los Angeles CA to fulfill your passionate desire to help and care for our pets may initially seem like an enormous task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? 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 identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options 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 have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated 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 have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Los Angeles CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic 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 involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Los Angeles CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Los Angeles CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech program 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Los Angeles CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Los Angeles 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 recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Los Angeles CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Los Angeles CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Los Angeles CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Los Angeles CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Los Angeles CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Los Angeles

Chosse the Best Los Angeles Vet Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Los Angeles California.

 

Los Angeles Vet Tech Schools | Los Angeles Vet Tech Schools Online