Veterinary Technician Training
How to Pick the Right One Near San Gabriel California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near San Gabriel CA might initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. 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 required training and education. And so that you pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can perform within the San Gabriel CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  San Gabriel CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the San Gabriel CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many San Gabriel CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet 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 grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some San Gabriel CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with San Gabriel CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied 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 outstanding reputation within the San Gabriel CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Gabriel CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Gabriel CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary colleges 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 in the evenings near San Gabriel CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

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

Enroll in the Best San Gabriel Veterinary Technologist School

Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Gabriel California.

 

San Gabriel Vet Tech Colleges | San Gabriel Veterinary Technician Schools