IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lomita CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Lomita CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Lomita CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Lomita CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lomita CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lomita CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lomita CA home, you must make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lomita CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.