Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Select the Best One Near Westmont California

Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Westmont CA could initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students begin by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The bottom line is that prior to making a selection, you need to carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the schools you are reviewing. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

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Vet Tech Degree Options

One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Westmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential 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 emergency care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Westmont CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Westmont CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School 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, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Westmont CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Westmont CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Westmont CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Westmont CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Westmont CA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Westmont CA home, you have to 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend 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. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many 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 attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Learn More About How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Westmont

Enroll in the Best Westmont Veterinary Technologist Program

Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Westmont California.

 

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