IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bell CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Bell CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Bell CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Bell CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bell CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Bell CA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Bell CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Bell CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.