IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Helena AL area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of 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 confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Helena AL area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Alabama school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Helena AL vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out 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 get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Helena AL veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Helena AL vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Helena AL programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Helena AL home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Helena AL. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.