Vet Technician Training Program
How to Choose the Right One Near Simi Valley California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Simi Valley CA might at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Job placement and intership programs in addition to 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 qualifications of the programs you are examining. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Education Options

Among 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 determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Simi Valley CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore 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 job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Simi Valley CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Simi Valley CA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Simi Valley CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Simi Valley CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Simi Valley CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Simi Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study 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 high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Simi Valley CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Simi Valley CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to 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 Campus Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Simi Valley CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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 classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating 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 Simi Valley CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Simi Valley

Enroll in the Best Simi Valley Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the right vet tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Simi Valley California.

 

Simi Valley Veterinary Technician Schools | Simi Valley Online Vet Tech Programs