IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Azusa CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among 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 demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Azusa CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Azusa CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Azusa CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical 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 develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Azusa CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Azusa CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Azusa CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Azusa CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.