Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Right One Near San Fernando California

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near San Fernando CA may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are nearest to their homes. When they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives 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 vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the San Fernando CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish 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 law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. So the main 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local San Fernando CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Fernando CA area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many San Fernando CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some San Fernando CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with San Fernando CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the San Fernando CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Fernando CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Fernando CA home, you need to confirm that the driving 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 close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide 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. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Fernando CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in San Fernando

Chosse the Right San Fernando Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Fernando California.

 

San Fernando Veterinary Technician Schools | San Fernando Online Vet Tech Programs