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 credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Goleta CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting 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 frequently a precondition for employment for many Goleta CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online 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 infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Goleta CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Goleta CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Goleta CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Goleta CA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding 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? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Goleta CA home, you must make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Goleta CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.