Vet Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Pasadena California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Pasadena CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and care for our pets may initially feel like an enormous task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over 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 Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Pasadena CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts 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 included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Pasadena CA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Pasadena CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Pasadena CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Pasadena CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Pasadena CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pasadena CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Pasadena CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough 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 Pasadena CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Pasadena

Chosse the Best Pasadena Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pasadena California.

 

Pasadena Vet Tech Colleges | Pasadena Veterinary Technician Schools