Veterinary Technician School
How to Pick the Right One Near Marina California
Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Marina CA might initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.
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Vet Tech Training Options
One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want 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 education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Marina CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as 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 instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
- Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Marina CA labs or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Marina CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Marina CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Marina CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Marina CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Marina CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Marina CA schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Marina CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are exploring 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 in the evenings near Marina CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.
Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Marina
Chosse the Right Marina Veterinary Technologist Program
Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs 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 picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Marina California.