Veterinary Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Redlands California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Redlands CA might at first feel like a challenging endeavor. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Redlands CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. So the only real distinction 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 possible management positions. They are additionally 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 emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Redlands CA labs or research facilities as well.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Redlands CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Redlands CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should 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 placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Redlands CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get 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 best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Redlands CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Redlands CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Redlands CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Redlands CA home, you must confirm 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 in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Redlands CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in Redlands

Chosse the Right Redlands Veterinary Technologist School

Choosing the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, 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 online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Redlands California.

 

Redlands Online Vet Tech Schools | Redlands Vet Tech Schools