IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the El Cerrito CA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 a rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many El Cerrito CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some El Cerrito CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain 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 El Cerrito CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the El Cerrito CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly 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, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the El Cerrito CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your El Cerrito CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out 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. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near El Cerrito CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.