IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Benicia CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you select 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 undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Benicia CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Benicia CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Benicia CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Benicia CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure 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. Find out from the Benicia CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Benicia CA home, you need 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large 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 increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Benicia CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.