Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Rancho Palos Verdes California

Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Rancho Palos Verdes CA might at first seem like a challenging endeavor. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. 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 vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• 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 finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Rancho Palos Verdes CA labs or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Rancho Palos Verdes CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Rancho Palos Verdes CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Rancho Palos Verdes CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Rancho Palos Verdes CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk 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 make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Rancho Palos Verdes CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges 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. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

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

Enroll in the Right Rancho Palos Verdes Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Rancho Palos Verdes California.

 

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