Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Monrovia California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Monrovia CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to work with and care for animals may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. 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 prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Monrovia CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Monrovia CA labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Monrovia CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior 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 schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Monrovia CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Monrovia CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Monrovia CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Monrovia CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big 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 Monrovia CA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Monrovia CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college 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, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Monrovia CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or 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 may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Monrovia

Chosse the Best Monrovia Veterinary Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for 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 selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Monrovia California.

 

Monrovia Vet Tech Colleges | Monrovia Veterinary Technician Schools