IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you intend 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 East Whittier CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select 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 veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of East Whittier CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some East Whittier CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with East Whittier CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of 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 might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the East Whittier CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the East Whittier CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your East Whittier CA home, you need to confirm that the driving 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 school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near East Whittier CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.