Vet Technician Training
How to Pick the Best One Near Palmdale California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Palmdale CA might initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Palmdale CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated 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 exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Palmdale CA labs or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Palmdale CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Palmdale CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting 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 specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Palmdale CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Palmdale CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Palmdale CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Palmdale CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Palmdale CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger 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 higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring 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 attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Palmdale CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Palmdale

Enroll in the Right Palmdale Vet Technologist School

Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. 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 options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Palmdale California.

 

Palmdale Vet Tech Colleges | Palmdale Veterinary Technician Schools