Vet Technician Degree Program
How to Pick the Right One Near South Pasadena California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near South Pasadena CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for animals may initially seem like an overwhelming challenge. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the right one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty 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 many tasks that they can carry out within the South Pasadena CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with 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 counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered

An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local South Pasadena CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the South Pasadena CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of South Pasadena CA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some South Pasadena CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with South Pasadena CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the South Pasadena CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the South Pasadena CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for 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?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your South Pasadena CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Pasadena CA. Others may 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 due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Learn More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in South Pasadena

Chosse the Right South Pasadena Vet Technologist School

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in South Pasadena California.

 

South Pasadena Vet Tech Programs | South Pasadena How To Become A Vet Tech