Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Find the Right One Near Westmont California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Westmont CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to work with and care for our pets may from the start seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. And in order to pick the best one you must research and compare all of the schools you have placed on your short list. When looking for vet tech programs, many potential students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you need to finish your due diligence and compare all pertinent aspects of the schools you are examining. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Technician Education Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Westmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Westmont CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Westmont CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously 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 need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 demanding review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Westmont CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers 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 complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Westmont CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Westmont CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Westmont CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Westmont CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Westmont CA home, you must make sure 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Westmont CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technologist in Westmont

Enroll in the Right Westmont Vet Technologist College

Choosing the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you decide on 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Westmont California.

 

Westmont Vet Tech Colleges | Westmont Veterinary Technician Schools