IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Anchorage AK area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Anchorage AK area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Alaska school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Anchorage AK veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Anchorage AK veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable 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 job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Anchorage AK veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Anchorage AK colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Anchorage AK home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Anchorage AK. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.