Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Pick the Right One Near Monterey Park California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Monterey Park CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to work with and care for our pets might from the start feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the Monterey Park CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Monterey Park CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Monterey Park CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online 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 grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Monterey Park CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Monterey Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program 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 might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Monterey Park CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Monterey Park CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Monterey Park CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college 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 online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Monterey Park CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Monterey Park

Enroll in the Best Monterey Park Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must 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 responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges 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 picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Monterey Park California.

 

Monterey Park Vet Tech Colleges | Monterey Park Veterinary Technician Schools