IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you probably have decided on 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, vocational and trade schools in the Duarte CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Duarte CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Duarte CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Duarte CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Duarte CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Duarte CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Duarte CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at 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 Duarte CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.