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 veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Arcadia CA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected 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 receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Arcadia CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance 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 authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Arcadia CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Arcadia CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Arcadia CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Arcadia CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Arcadia CA home, you must make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger 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 costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at 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 in the evenings near Arcadia CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.