Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Port Hueneme California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Port Hueneme CA to fulfill your heartfelt goal to help and care for our pets might initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Port Hueneme CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Port Hueneme CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Port Hueneme CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a school 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 schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Port Hueneme CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Port Hueneme CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Port Hueneme CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Port Hueneme CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Port Hueneme CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Port Hueneme CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Port Hueneme CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Port Hueneme

Enroll in the Right Port Hueneme Vet Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, 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 applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Port Hueneme California.

 

Port Hueneme Vet Tech Colleges | Port Hueneme Veterinary Technician Schools