Vet Technician Training Program
How to Select the Best One Near Pasadena California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Pasadena CA might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Pasadena CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Pasadena CA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Pasadena CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Pasadena CA area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. 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 reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Pasadena CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Pasadena CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Pasadena CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Pasadena CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pasadena CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pasadena CA home, you must make sure 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 college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pasadena CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Pasadena

Chosse the Best Pasadena Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pasadena California.

 

Pasadena Vet Tech Programs | Pasadena How To Become A Vet Tech