IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Glendora CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a school 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 Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Glendora CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Glendora CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Glendora CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Glendora CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well 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 probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Glendora CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Glendora CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, 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 charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 Glendora CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.