IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have selected which veterinary credential 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, vocational and technical schools in the Vail AZ area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select 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 a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Vail AZ area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Arizona school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Vail AZ vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Vail AZ veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Vail AZ veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Vail AZ schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Vail AZ home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges 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.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Vail AZ. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.