Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Right One Near Stevenson Ranch California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Stevenson Ranch CA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? When checking out vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main point is that before making a selection, you must complete your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are evaluating. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options 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 need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Stevenson Ranch CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Stevenson Ranch CA laboratories or research facilities also.

What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Stevenson Ranch CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Stevenson Ranch CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Stevenson Ranch CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Stevenson Ranch CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Stevenson Ranch CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Stevenson Ranch CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Stevenson Ranch CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Stevenson Ranch CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Stevenson Ranch

Enroll in the Right Stevenson Ranch Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech schools must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Stevenson Ranch California.

 

Stevenson Ranch Vet Tech Colleges | Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Technician Schools