Veterinary Technician Training Program
How to Find the Best One Near Newport Beach California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Newport Beach CA to achieve your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Newport Beach CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Newport Beach CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish 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, vocational and technical schools in the Newport Beach CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Newport Beach CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Newport Beach CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Newport Beach CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Newport Beach CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of 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 receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Newport Beach CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Newport Beach CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring 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 in the evenings near Newport Beach CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Newport Beach

Chosse the Best Newport Beach Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Newport Beach California.

 

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