IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Alabaster AL area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Alabaster AL area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding 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 suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Alabaster AL veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more 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 setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Alabaster AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus 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 ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Alabaster AL vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Alabaster AL schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Alabaster AL home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Alabaster AL. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.