Veterinary Technician College
How to Select the Best One Near Santa Ana California

Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Santa Ana CA may initially seem like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must 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 ideal selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are examining. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of vet techs 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 whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Santa Ana CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent 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 involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential 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 emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Santa Ana CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Ana CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Santa Ana CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded 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 receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Santa Ana CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Santa Ana CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Santa Ana CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Ana CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate 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. Request from the Santa Ana CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Ana CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide 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 attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Ana CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Santa Ana

Enroll in the Best Santa Ana Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Ana California.

 

Santa Ana Veterinary Technician Schools | Santa Ana Online Vet Tech Programs