IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Burlingame CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that ensures 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 obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Burlingame CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Burlingame CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Burlingame CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college 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 evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Burlingame CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower 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 Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Burlingame CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Burlingame CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Burlingame CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.