Vet Technician College
How to Choose the Right One Near Santa Ana California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Santa Ana CA may initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? 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 found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Santa Ana CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational 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. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example 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 handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore 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 job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Santa Ana CA labs or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Santa Ana CA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Santa Ana CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Santa Ana CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Santa Ana CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Ana CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Ana CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Santa Ana CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate 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 larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Ana CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Santa Ana

Chosse the Right Santa Ana Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. 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 narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Ana California.

 

Santa Ana Vet Tech Colleges | Santa Ana Veterinary Technician Schools