Veterinary Technician College
How to Choose the Right One Near San Dimas California

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near San Dimas CA could initially feel like a challenging task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the San Dimas CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. 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 job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Dimas CA labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Dimas CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many San Dimas 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 interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some San Dimas CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Dimas CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the San Dimas CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Dimas CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Dimas CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school 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 classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Dimas CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Tech in San Dimas

Enroll in the Right San Dimas Vet Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools 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 achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Dimas California.

 

San Dimas Online Vet Tech Schools | San Dimas Vet Tech Schools