Veterinary Technician Program
How to Pick the Best One Near San Fernando California

Finding a veterinary technician school near San Fernando CA to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and care for animals might from the start feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the San Fernando CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing 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. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Fernando CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Fernando CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of San Fernando CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking 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 specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some San Fernando CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with San Fernando CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide 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 associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the San Fernando CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Fernando CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Fernando CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Fernando 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 available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness 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 Technologist in San Fernando

Chosse the Right San Fernando Vet Technologist Program

Picking the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Fernando California.

 

San Fernando Vet Tech Colleges | San Fernando Veterinary Technician Schools