IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Irvine CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Irvine CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet 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 pointers include checking with internet school ranking 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 regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Irvine CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges 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 professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Irvine CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Irvine CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Irvine CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Irvine CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Irvine CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.