Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Right One Near Pomona California
Choosing a veterinary technician school near Pomona CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets may from the start feel like an enormous challenge. 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 necessary education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Vet Technician Training Options
One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary 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 principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Pomona CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore 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, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Pomona CA labs or research facilities as well.
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Pomona CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Pomona CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating 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 relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Pomona CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Pomona CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Pomona CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pomona CA schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Pomona CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough 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 Pomona CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Pomona
Enroll in the Right Pomona Veterinary Technologist Program
Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pomona California.