IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Danville CA area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Danville CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Danville CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Danville CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Danville CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Danville CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Danville CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large 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 especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough 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 Danville CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.