Vet Technician Training
How to Pick the Right One Near Northridge California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Northridge CA might at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Northridge CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So 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 options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Northridge CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Northridge CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs

At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Northridge CA area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Northridge CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking 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 targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Northridge CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Northridge CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Northridge CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Northridge CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Northridge CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, 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 costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many 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 go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Northridge

Chosse the Best Northridge Vet Technologist School

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals 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 profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges 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 decision. And by choosing the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Northridge California.

 

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