IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Brentwood CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Brentwood CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Brentwood CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Brentwood CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Brentwood CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Brentwood CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Brentwood CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend 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. Of course taking online classes might 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 essential that you determine 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 attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Brentwood CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.