IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Tan Valley AZ area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of San Tan Valley AZ area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some San Tan Valley AZ veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with San Tan Valley AZ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can 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 low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Tan Valley AZ veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly 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 may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Tan Valley AZ schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Tan Valley AZ home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger 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 increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Tan Valley AZ. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.