Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Enroll In the Best One Near Santa Clarita California

Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Santa Clarita CA may at first feel like a challenging endeavor. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you must first search for and finally enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Santa Clarita CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent 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 included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Santa Clarita CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Clarita CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college 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 colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Clarita CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Santa Clarita CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Santa Clarita CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Clarita CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Clarita CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Clarita CA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 large 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes 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 essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Clarita CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in Santa Clarita

Enroll in the Right Santa Clarita Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Clarita California.

 

Santa Clarita Vet Tech Colleges | Santa Clarita Veterinary Technician Schools