IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have selected 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 vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Cypress CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 rigorous screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Cypress CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Cypress CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Cypress CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Cypress CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance 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. Request from the Cypress CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback 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 School Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Cypress CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Cypress CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.