Vet Technician College
How to Pick the Right One Near Whittier California

Finding a veterinary technician school near Whittier CA to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets may from the start feel like an enormous task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. And in order to pick the best 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. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Internship and job placement programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

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

Vet Tech Degree Options

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Whittier CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. 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 options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Whittier CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Whittier CA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a college 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 should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Whittier CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program's Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian 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 suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Whittier CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Whittier CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Whittier CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Whittier CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to 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 College Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Whittier CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Whittier CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Whittier

Enroll in the Right Whittier Vet Technologist Program

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Whittier California.

 

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