Vet Technician Training
How to Enroll In the Right One Near Santa Monica California

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Santa Monica CA could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare each of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all relevant aspects of the schools you are examining. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the different roles of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Santa Monica CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire 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 vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some 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 Offered

An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled 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 some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Santa Monica CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Santa Monica CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Santa Monica CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Santa Monica CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Monica CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might 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 larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Santa Monica CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Santa Monica CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into 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 close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Monica CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

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

Chosse the Best Santa Monica Veterinary Technologist Program

Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Santa Monica California.

 

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