IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lakewood CA area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among 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 demanding screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Lakewood CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Lakewood CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Lakewood CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college 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 evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Lakewood CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lakewood CA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lakewood CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger 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 increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lakewood CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.