Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Select the Best One Near Santa Fe Springs California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Santa Fe Springs CA to fulfill your passionate desire to work with and care for our pets may from the start feel like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the various responsibilities 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 first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Santa Fe Springs CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician 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 demanding screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Fe Springs CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Santa Fe Springs CA vet 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 schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Santa Fe Springs CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify 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, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Fe Springs CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding 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 Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Fe Springs CA home, you must make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Fe Springs CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Santa Fe Springs

Enroll in the Right Santa Fe Springs Vet Technologist School

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included 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 selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Fe Springs California.

 

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