Vet Technician School
How to Choose the Right One Near Sherman Oaks California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Sherman Oaks CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an enormous challenge. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the required training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as location and cost. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Technician Training Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary 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 education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Sherman Oaks CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Sherman Oaks CA labs or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Sherman Oaks CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Sherman Oaks CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Sherman Oaks CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Sherman Oaks CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Sherman Oaks CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Sherman Oaks CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding 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?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Sherman Oaks CA home, you have to make sure 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Sherman Oaks CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Sherman Oaks

Chosse the Right Sherman Oaks Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges 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 decision. And by selecting the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sherman Oaks California.

 

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