IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Alhambra CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want 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 schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Alhambra CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Alhambra CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Alhambra CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number 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 can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Alhambra CA vet community and has a substantial 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 ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Alhambra CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Alhambra CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Alhambra CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.