IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Camarillo CA area and across the USA, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Camarillo CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with 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 violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Camarillo CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Camarillo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Camarillo CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might 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 get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Camarillo CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Camarillo CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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 close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Camarillo CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.