IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the El Sobrante CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of El Sobrante CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some El Sobrante CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with El Sobrante CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the El Sobrante CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the El Sobrante CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your El Sobrante CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering 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 Sobrante CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.