IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Monrovia CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in 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 a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Monrovia CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Monrovia CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Monrovia CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Monrovia CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Monrovia CA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Monrovia CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 Monrovia 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 due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.