Veterinary Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near San Fernando California

Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near San Fernando CA might initially seem like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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Vet Tech Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the San Fernando CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency 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.

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local San Fernando CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the San Fernando CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Fernando CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations 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 tip, get in touch with some San Fernando CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with San Fernando CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 outstanding reputation within the San Fernando CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Fernando CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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 School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Fernando CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could 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 ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Fernando CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in San Fernando

Chosse the Right San Fernando Veterinary Technologist College

Picking the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to 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 support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Fernando California.

 

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