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 degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Eloy AZ area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Eloy AZ area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Eloy AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Eloy AZ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Eloy AZ veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Eloy AZ schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Eloy AZ home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Eloy AZ. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.