IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the French Valley CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in 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 should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many French Valley CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some French Valley CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with French Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the French Valley CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the French Valley CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your French Valley CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near French Valley CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.