Vet Technician School
How to Pick the Best One Near San Marino California

Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near San Marino CA could at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When checking out vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial 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 predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the San Marino CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable 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 four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can 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 Marino CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Marino CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many San Marino CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. 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 ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some San Marino CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out 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 training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Marino CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary 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 can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the San Marino CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement 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 Marino CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Marino CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Marino CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Tech in San Marino

Enroll in the Right San Marino Veterinary Technologist Program

Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in San Marino California.

 

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