IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Campbell CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Campbell CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with 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 specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Campbell CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Campbell CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Campbell CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Campbell CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Campbell CA home, you must confirm 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, especially if the campus is located near or in 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 increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian 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 go to classes on the weekends or at night near Campbell CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.