Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Santa Ana California

Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Santa Ana CA may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are evaluating. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Santa Ana CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Ana CA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Ana CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Santa Ana CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Santa Ana CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Santa Ana CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Santa Ana CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Ana CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Ana CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify 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 work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Santa Ana

Chosse the Right Santa Ana Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Ana California.

 

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