Veterinary Technician Program
How to Choose the Best One Near Santa Monica California

Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Santa Monica CA might initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant 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 idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives 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 if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Santa Monica CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example 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 examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real 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 options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may 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 Monica CA labs or research facilities also.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Santa Monica CA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant 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 tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Santa Monica CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Santa Monica CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Santa Monica CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Santa Monica CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Santa Monica CA colleges 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 relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Santa Monica CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 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 increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Monica CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Santa Monica

Enroll in the Best Santa Monica Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist 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 outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Monica California.

 

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