Vet Technician Training
How to Choose the Best One Near Santa Monica California

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Santa Monica CA may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare each of the schools you are considering. Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options 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 need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Santa Monica CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Santa Monica CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Santa Monica CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Santa Monica CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Santa Monica CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Santa Monica CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Monica CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Monica CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs 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 go to classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Monica CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Santa Monica

Enroll in the Right Santa Monica Veterinary Technologist School

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Santa Monica California.

 

Santa Monica Vet Tech Schools Near Me | Santa Monica Vet Tech Programs