Veterinary Technician School
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Santa Monica California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Santa Monica CA could initially feel like a daunting task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are assessing. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different responsibilities 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 want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Santa Monica CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Available

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Santa Monica CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Santa Monica CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Santa Monica CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking 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 violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Santa Monica CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Santa Monica CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy 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 may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Monica CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Monica CA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Monica CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Santa Monica CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Santa Monica

Enroll in the Right Santa Monica Vet Technologist School

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Monica California.

 

Santa Monica Veterinary Technician Schools | Santa Monica Online Vet Tech Programs