IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Carpinteria CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, 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 precondition for employment for a number of Carpinteria CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Carpinteria CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools 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 schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Carpinteria CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Carpinteria CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Carpinteria CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Carpinteria CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating 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 Carpinteria CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.