IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the La Puente CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. 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 addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of La Puente CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some La Puente CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with La Puente CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the La Puente CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the La Puente CA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning 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? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your La Puente CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Puente CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.