Veterinary Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near Temple City California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Temple City CA to achieve your lifelong goal to help and care for animals might initially feel like an enormous task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main point is that before making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Temple City CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 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 basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Temple City CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Temple City CA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Temple City CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Temple City CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Temple City CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Temple City CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds 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 veterinary technician classes from your Temple City CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring 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 go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Temple City

Enroll in the Right Temple City Veterinary Technologist Program

Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it's very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools 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 selection. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Temple City California.

 

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