Vet Technician Degree
How to Choose the Best One Near San Diego California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near San Diego CA might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. When they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in 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 Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the San Diego CA veterinary practice 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 veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local San Diego CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Diego CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of San Diego CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies 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, get in touch with some San Diego CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with San Diego CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may 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 evaluating. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the San Diego CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean 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 in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Diego CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Diego CA home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in 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, attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Diego CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in San Diego

Chosse the Best San Diego Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Diego California.

 

San Diego Vet Tech Programs | San Diego How To Become A Vet Tech