Veterinary Technician Training
How to Choose the Right One Near Santa Fe Springs California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Santa Fe Springs CA may initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? When checking out vet tech programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the programs you are assessing. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Technician Training Options

One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in 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 both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example 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 almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. 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 involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore 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 job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Available

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical 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, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Fe Springs CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Fe Springs CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online 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 grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Santa Fe Springs CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate 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. Find out from the Santa Fe Springs CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Fe Springs CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by 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 particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Fe Springs CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Santa Fe Springs

Enroll in the Right Santa Fe Springs Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Fe Springs California.

 

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