IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Luis AZ area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many San Luis AZ area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some San Luis AZ veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out 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 get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with San Luis AZ veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the San Luis AZ veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Luis AZ colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Luis AZ 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college 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 may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Luis AZ. Some may only be able to go to class 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 as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.