IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fountain Hills AZ area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Fountain Hills AZ area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Fountain Hills AZ veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Fountain Hills AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Fountain Hills AZ veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Fountain Hills AZ programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Fountain Hills AZ home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, 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 attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough 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 Fountain Hills AZ. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.