Vet Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Norwalk California
Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Norwalk CA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the schools you are assessing. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.
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Vet Technician Training Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Norwalk CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
- Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Norwalk CA labs or research facilities as well.
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Norwalk CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important 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 need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Norwalk CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Norwalk CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Norwalk CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Norwalk CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Norwalk CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Norwalk CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Norwalk CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.
Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Norwalk
Chosse the Best Norwalk Veterinary Technologist School
Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you decide on 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Norwalk California.