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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges

Decatur Alabama cat in carrier in vet hospitalAt this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Decatur AL area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Decatur AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Decatur AL veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Decatur AL veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Decatur AL veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Decatur AL schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Decatur AL home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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 might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Decatur AL. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

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