Vet Technician College
How to Choose the Right One Near Woodland Hills California

Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Woodland Hills CA could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. 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. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students begin by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Internship and job placement programs in addition to accreditation are just as important if not more so as cost and location. The main point 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 presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we'll explore the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

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

Vet Technician Education Options

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Woodland Hills CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive 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 sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Woodland Hills CA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Available

An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Woodland Hills CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Woodland Hills CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Woodland Hills CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Woodland Hills CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more 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 medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Woodland Hills CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Woodland Hills CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Woodland Hills CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already 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 Woodland Hills CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Woodland Hills CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Tech in Woodland Hills

Enroll in the Best Woodland Hills Veterinary Technologist School

Selecting the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Woodland Hills California.

 

Woodland Hills Vet Tech Programs | Woodland Hills How To Become A Vet Tech