Veterinary Technician College
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Palos Verdes Estates California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Palos Verdes Estates CA may initially feel like a challenging undertaking. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Palos Verdes Estates CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician 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 also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Palos Verdes Estates CA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Palos Verdes Estates CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Palos Verdes Estates CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among 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 confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Palos Verdes Estates CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Palos Verdes Estates CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get 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 arranged with Palos Verdes Estates CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish 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 veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Palos Verdes Estates CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palos Verdes Estates 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 observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Palos Verdes Estates CA home, you have to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs 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.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Palos Verdes Estates CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Palos Verdes Estates

Enroll in the Best Palos Verdes Estates Vet Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Palos Verdes Estates California.

 

Palos Verdes Estates Vet Tech Programs | Palos Verdes Estates How To Become A Vet Tech