Veterinary Technician Training
How to Select the Right One Near Temple City California

Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Temple City CA may initially seem like an overwhelming task. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you need to first search for and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you are considering. Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as location and cost. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

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

Vet Technician Degree Options

Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Temple City CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may 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  Temple City CA labs or research facilities also.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Temple City CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Temple City CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking 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 targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Temple City CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Temple City CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 college has an exceptional reputation within the Temple City CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Temple City CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Temple City CA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary 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 Temple City CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Temple City

Enroll in the Best Temple City Vet Technologist Program

Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Temple City California.

 

Temple City Vet Tech Colleges | Temple City Veterinary Technician Schools