Veterinary Technician Training
How to Choose the Right One Near Placentia California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Placentia CA to achieve your lifelong desire to work with and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each 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. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Placentia CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Placentia CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Placentia CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Placentia CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs 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 professional environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Placentia CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Placentia CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly 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 most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Placentia CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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 Campus Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Placentia CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Placentia CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Placentia

Enroll in the Right Placentia Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Placentia California.

 

Placentia Vet Tech Colleges | Placentia Veterinary Technician Schools