Veterinary Technician School
How to Choose the Right One Near Westmont California

Choosing a veterinary technician school near Westmont CA to achieve your lifelong desire to help and provide medical treatment for animals may initially seem like an enormous challenge. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. And in order to pick the right one you must evaluate and compare all of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech programs, the majority of students start by zeroing in on the ones that are nearest to their homes. When they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll talk about the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

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Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Westmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So the only real 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 opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Westmont CA labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Westmont CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Westmont CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Westmont CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Westmont CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Westmont CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Westmont CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Westmont CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding 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?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Westmont CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Westmont CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Veterinary Tech in Westmont

Enroll in the Right Westmont Vet Technologist College

Enrolling in the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it's essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided 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 selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Westmont California.

 

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