IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Hollywood CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important 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 tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Hollywood CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Hollywood CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Hollywood CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Hollywood CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Hollywood CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hollywood CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Hollywood CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.