Veterinary Technician School
How to Find the Best One Near Santa Ana California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Santa Ana CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an enormous task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the programs you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can perform within the Santa Ana CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured 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 technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire 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 duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain 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 option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Ana CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Santa Ana CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Santa Ana CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Santa Ana CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Santa Ana CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Ana CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective 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. Request from the Santa Ana CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several 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 must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Ana CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

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

Chosse the Right Santa Ana Vet Technologist Program

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Ana California.

 

Santa Ana Vet Tech Programs | Santa Ana How To Become A Vet Tech