Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Northridge California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Northridge CA could at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as 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 aspects of the programs you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different responsibilities 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

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Northridge CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer 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 Northridge CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Northridge CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Northridge CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Northridge CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Northridge CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Northridge CA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Northridge CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Northridge CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Northridge

Chosse the Right Northridge Vet Technologist School

Selecting the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Northridge California.

 

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