IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the El Cajon CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of El Cajon CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. 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 pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some El Cajon CA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with El Cajon CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the El Cajon CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the El Cajon CA schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your El Cajon CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in 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 taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with 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 evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit 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 El Cajon CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.