Veterinary Technician Program
How to Select the Right One Near Santa Fe Springs California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Santa Fe Springs CA might initially seem like a challenging task. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. 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 examining. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to 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 although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain 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 duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be completed 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 secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Fe Springs CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Santa Fe Springs CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Santa Fe Springs CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Santa Fe Springs CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Fe Springs CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Santa Fe Springs CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Fe Springs CA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger 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 increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Fe Springs CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Santa Fe Springs

Chosse the Best Santa Fe Springs Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Fe Springs California.

 

Santa Fe Springs Vet Tech Schools | Santa Fe Springs Vet Tech Schools Online