Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Find the Best One Near Malibu California
Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Malibu CA could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.
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Vet Technician Training Options
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Malibu CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic 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 example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Malibu CA labs or research facilities also.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Malibu CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Malibu CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Malibu CA vet 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 one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Malibu CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy 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 higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Malibu CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Malibu CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Malibu CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Malibu CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.
Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Malibu
Enroll in the Right Malibu Veterinary Technologist Program
Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as 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 profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Malibu California.