IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mill Valley CA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 gone through a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Mill Valley CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Mill Valley CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Mill Valley CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Mill Valley CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Mill Valley CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Mill Valley CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mill Valley CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.