IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hillsborough CA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Hillsborough CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Hillsborough CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Hillsborough CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Hillsborough CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hillsborough CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hillsborough CA home, you have to make certain that the driving 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within 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 increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Hillsborough CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.