Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Right One Near Redlands California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Redlands CA may at first feel like a daunting endeavor. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Redlands CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions 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 compared with assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Redlands CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Redlands CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Redlands CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Redlands 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 some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Redlands CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require 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 establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can 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 considering. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Redlands CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Redlands CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in 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 determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Redlands CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Redlands CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Redlands

Chosse the Best Redlands Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Redlands California.

 

Redlands Vet Tech Colleges | Redlands Veterinary Technician Schools