IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Jurupa Valley CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Jurupa Valley CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Jurupa Valley CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Jurupa Valley CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Jurupa Valley CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Jurupa Valley CA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Jurupa Valley CA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with 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 in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are looking at 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 Jurupa Valley CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.