IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Milpitas CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Milpitas CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Milpitas CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training 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 Milpitas CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can 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 indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Milpitas CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Milpitas CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. 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 College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Milpitas CA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out 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. 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Milpitas CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.