Veterinary Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Best One Near Santa Fe Springs California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Santa Fe Springs CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and provide medical treatment for our pets may initially feel like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the required training and education. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Available

An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary 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 Fe Springs CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Fe Springs CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Santa Fe Springs CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Santa Fe Springs CA vet clinics that you might 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 means to obtain clinical hands on training 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 Fe Springs CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy 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 might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Santa Fe Springs CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Fe Springs CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Fe Springs CA home, you need to make sure 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Fe Springs CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Santa Fe Springs

Chosse the Best Santa Fe Springs Vet Technologist College

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Fe Springs California.

 

Santa Fe Springs Veterinary Technician Schools | Santa Fe Springs Online Vet Tech Programs