Tag Archives: Colleges with Veterinary Technician Programs Duarte CA 91009

Vet Tech Schools near Duarte CA 91009

How to Choose a Vet Tech Training near Duarte California

Duarte CA vet tech holding dog during examAchieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinarian school near Duarte CA may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have identified some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet assistants and techs and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Technician and Assistant

Duarte CA vet assistant taking vital signs of puppyOne of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What vet techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Duarte CA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

  • Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school near Duarte CA. 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 associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
  • Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
  • Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Online Courses

attending vet tech school online in Duarte CAAn alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Duarte CA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet technician or assistant school may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Assistant and Technologist Training Programs

cat wearing cone after vet surgery in Duarte CAAt this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in California and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college 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 Duarte CA vet assistant and technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary assistant or technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Duarte CA veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Duarte CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet assistant or tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with local veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local Duarte CA veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician or assistant program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the Duarte CA college has an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded 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 receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Duarte CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. 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 School Located?  Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary assistant classes from work or home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the Duarte CA campus is located near or in a large 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 fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the California vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered near Duarte CA prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Why Did You Want to Become a Vet Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a veterinary position, it's important to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask veterinary applicants is "What made you select veterinary care as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the personal reasons you may have for being a vet tech, but additionally what attributes and talents you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating exclusively to veterinary care, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare several strategies about how you want to address them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an exceptional vet tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Best Vet Assistant Program near Duarte CA

Choosing the right vet assistant or tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary assistant or tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary assistants, techs and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online 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 picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet assistant, technician or technologist in Duarte CA.

A Little Bit About Duarte CA

Duarte, California

Duarte (/ˈdwɑːrtiː/ or /duːˈɑːrteɪ/; from Spanish or Portuguese [ˈdwaɾte]) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,321, down from 21,486 at the 2000 census.

It is bounded to the north by the San Gabriel Mountains, to the north and west by the cities of Bradbury and Monrovia, to the south by the city of Irwindale, and to the east by the cities of Irwindale and Azusa.

Duarte is located on historic U.S. Route 66 which today follows Huntington Drive through the middle of the city. The town holds an annual Salute to Route 66 Parade on the third weekend in September on Huntington Drive.

 

 

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