Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Rancho Palos Verdes California

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Rancho Palos Verdes CA might initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are examining. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various 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 first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan 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 invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from 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 performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a two 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination 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 acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Rancho Palos Verdes CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Rancho Palos Verdes CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Rancho Palos Verdes CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Rancho Palos Verdes CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Rancho Palos Verdes CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Rancho Palos Verdes CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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 campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Rancho Palos Verdes CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Rancho Palos Verdes

Chosse the Right Rancho Palos Verdes Veterinary Technologist College

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you pick 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 assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Rancho Palos Verdes California.

 

Rancho Palos Verdes Vet Tech Colleges | Rancho Palos Verdes Veterinary Technician Schools