IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Live Oak CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Live Oak CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions 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 violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Live Oak CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Live Oak CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Live Oak CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Live Oak CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Live Oak CA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger 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 increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Live Oak CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.