IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer 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 Alpine CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Alpine CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Alpine CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs 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. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Alpine CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Alpine CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Alpine CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Alpine CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into 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, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Alpine CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.