IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Davis CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among 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 quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Davis CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating 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 involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Davis CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Davis CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied 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 could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Davis CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Davis CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Davis CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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 close by or within 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Davis CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.