IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Moorpark CA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Moorpark CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online 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 violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Moorpark CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Moorpark CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Moorpark CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Moorpark CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Moorpark CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Moorpark CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.