Vet Technician School
How to Find the Right One Near Tujunga California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Tujunga CA to achieve your lifelong desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals might from the start seem like an enormous task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. And so that you pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we'll go over the different duties 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

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Tujunga CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians 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  Tujunga CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Tujunga CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, 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 Tujunga CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among 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 confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Tujunga CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Tujunga CA veterinary clinics 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 some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Tujunga CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Tujunga CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Tujunga CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations 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?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Tujunga CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Tujunga CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technician in Tujunga

Enroll in the Best Tujunga Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Tujunga California.

 

Tujunga Vet Tech Programs | Tujunga How To Become A Vet Tech