IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like 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, vocational and trade schools in the Monterey CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for a number of Monterey CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Monterey CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Monterey CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult 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 indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Monterey CA veterinarian community and has a significant 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 placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Monterey CA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Monterey CA home, you must make sure that the driving 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, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating 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 Monterey CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.