IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend 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 Sierra Vista AZ area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
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 agency. As previously 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 gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Sierra Vista AZ area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet 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 complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Sierra Vista AZ veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Sierra Vista AZ veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Sierra Vista AZ veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Sierra Vista AZ programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Sierra Vista AZ home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out 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. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Sierra Vista AZ. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.