Vet Technician School
How to Select the Best One Near San Diego California

Finding a veterinary technician school near San Diego CA to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may from the start seem like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the San Diego CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out 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 many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Diego CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many San Diego CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some San Diego CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with San Diego CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the San Diego CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Diego CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend 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 instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Diego CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, 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 might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain 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 as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

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

Enroll in the Right San Diego Vet Technologist College

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in 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 provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in San Diego California.

 

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