IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Discovery Bay CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Discovery Bay CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Discovery Bay CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Discovery Bay CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some 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 may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Discovery Bay CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Discovery Bay CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Discovery Bay CA home, you have to make certain 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 school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Discovery Bay CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.