IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Monterey Park CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like 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 reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Monterey Park CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Monterey Park CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Monterey Park CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Monterey Park CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Monterey Park CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Monterey Park 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college 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, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Monterey Park CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.