Vet Technician Degree
How to Choose the Right One Near Santa Clarita California
Finding a veterinary technician school near Santa Clarita CA to fulfill your heartfelt desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals might initially seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. After they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over 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 Tech Training Options
One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Santa Clarita CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.
- Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
- Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician 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 additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Santa Clarita CA laboratories or research facilities as well.
Veterinary Technician Online Programs Available
An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can study 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 many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Clarita CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Clarita CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Santa Clarita CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Santa Clarita CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Santa Clarita CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections 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 program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Clarita CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Clarita CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Clarita CA home, you have to confirm that the driving 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 campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Clarita CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure 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, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.
Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Santa Clarita
Enroll in the Right Santa Clarita Vet Technologist School
Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist 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 excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools 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 school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Clarita California.
Santa Clarita Veterinary Technician Schools | Santa Clarita Online Vet Tech Programs