IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the El Centro CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant 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 already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many El Centro CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online 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 grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some El Centro CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with El Centro CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the El Centro CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the El Centro CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your El Centro CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 near or in 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 particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an alternative 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 determine if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near El Centro CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.