IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Highland CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Highland CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian 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 tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Highland CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Highland CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed 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 may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Highland CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Highland CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Highland CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger 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 increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Highland CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.