IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, 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 Canoga Park CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Canoga Park CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Canoga Park CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Canoga Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Canoga Park CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Canoga Park CA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Canoga Park CA home, you have to make certain that the driving 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 school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Canoga Park CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.