Vet Technician Degree
How to Select the Right One Near South Whittier California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near South Whittier CA to fulfill your passionate goal to work with and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. When they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the South Whittier CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet 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  South Whittier CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered

An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local South Whittier CA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you select 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 dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the South Whittier CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many South Whittier CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online 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 grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some South Whittier CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with South Whittier CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the South Whittier CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the South Whittier CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your South Whittier CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Whittier CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in South Whittier

Enroll in the Best South Whittier Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in South Whittier California.

 

South Whittier Veterinary Technician Schools | South Whittier Online Vet Tech Programs