IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the La Jolla CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many La Jolla CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some La Jolla CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach 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 arranged with La Jolla CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the La Jolla CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly 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 sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the La Jolla CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your La Jolla CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near La Jolla CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.