Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near Los Angeles California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Los Angeles CA may at first feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Los Angeles CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Los Angeles CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Los Angeles CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Los Angeles CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Los Angeles CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Los Angeles CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Los Angeles CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Los Angeles CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Los Angeles CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend 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. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Los Angeles CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Los Angeles

Chosse the Right Los Angeles Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Los Angeles California.

 

Los Angeles Vet Tech Schools Near Me | Los Angeles Vet Tech Programs