Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near South Whittier California

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near South Whittier CA may at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by targeting the ones that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The main point is that prior to making a selection, you need to complete your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the programs you are assessing. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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Vet Technician Training Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based 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 appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the South Whittier CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the South Whittier CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many South Whittier 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 excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some South Whittier CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with South Whittier CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the South Whittier CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South Whittier CA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your South Whittier CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Whittier CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Learn More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in South Whittier

Enroll in the Right South Whittier Vet Technologist College

Selecting the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in South Whittier California.

 

South Whittier Vet Tech Colleges | South Whittier Veterinary Technician Schools